Long-spacing collagen in skin biopsies from patients with lepromatous leprosy.

In the course fo evaluating the effect of different drugs on the morphology of Mycobacterium leprae (Edwards, Draper & Draper, 1972) and on the phagocytic cells containing these organisms (Edwards, 1973), an unusual feature was observed in the dermal connective tissue of skin biopsies obtained from some of the patients. Variable amounts of an extracellular, cross-striated osmiophilic material were present in the dermis. The purpose of this communication is to describe the banded substance observed in the extracellular space of the lepromatous skin and to compare it briefly with similar substances and structures reported to occur elsewhere.