Renal lesions and other major findings in necropsies of 133 patients with leprosy.

A study of 133 necropsies on leprosy patients showed that renal disease, pyogenic infections, and tuberculosis were the most frequent causes of death. Major kidney lesions encountered included glomerulonephritis of different types, pyemic abscess, acute tubercular necrosis, amyloidosis, and chronic pyelonephritis. In many cases the renal lesions were secondary to infections in other organs. Case control studies are required to determine if the high prevalence of these diseases is related to leprosy, its complications, or its therapy, per se, or if it is a reflection of the disadvantaged and poor socioeconomic status of these patients.