Immune responses in post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis

Mitali Chatterjee, Ritika Sengupta, Debanjan Mukhopadhyay, Shibabrata Mukherjee, Aishwarya Dighal, Srija Moulik, Shilpa SenguptaIndian Journal of Dermatology 2020 65(6):452-460 Kala-azar, commonly known as visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is a neglected tropical disease that has been targeted in South Asia for elimination by 2020. Presently, the Kala-azar Elimination Programme is aimed at identifying new low-endemic foci by active case detection, consolidating vector control measures, and decreasing potential reservoirs, of which Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is considered as the most important. PKDL is a skin condition that occurs after apparently successful treatment of VL and is characterized by hypopigmented patches (macular) or a mixture of papules, nodules, and/or macules (polymorphic). To achieve this goal of elimination, it is important to delineate the pathophysiology so that informed decisions can be made regarding the most appropriate and cost-effective approach. We reviewed the literature with regard to PKDL in Asia and Africa and interpreted the findings in establishing a potential correlation between the immune responses and pathophysiology. The overall histopathology indicated the presence of a dense, inflammatory cellular infiltrate, characterized by increased expression of alternatively activated CD68+ macrophages, CD8+ T cells showing features of exhaustion, CD20+ B cells, along with decreased CD1a+ dendr...
Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Source Type: research