OBJECTIVE:

To quantify collagen fibers types I and III in the polar and initial clinical forms of leprosy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 39 skin samples preserved in paraffin blocks were analyzed, divided into undetermined - UL (9), tuberculoid - TL (16), and virchowian - VL (14), and submitted to Picrosirius Red microtomy and staining. The images were analyzed using the Image J software, and the ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05).

RESULTS:

Type I collagen covered 69% (SD ± 14.94), 54% (SD + 18.66), and 44% (SD ± 18.06) of the dermis area in UL, TL, and VL, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between UL and VL (p < 0.01). Type III collagen covered 1.6% (SD ± 1.524), 2.6% (SD ± 1.787), and 4.5% (SD ± 2.325), of the dermis area in UL, TL, and VL, respectively, with statistically significant differences between UL and VL (p < 0.01) and between VL and TL (p < 0.05). As for the correlation of collagen types I and III, a negative, strong, and statistically significant correlation was obtained in the UL form (r = -0.7000; p = 0.0433); for TL, a negative, moderate, and statistically significant correlation was obtained (r = -0.5029; p = 0.0471); while for VL there was no statistical significance (p = 0.7253; r = -0.1033).

CONCLUSION:

The type of leprosy and its associated immunopathological aspects are determinant in the collagen levels were identified, and gradually showing loss of type I collagen and increase of type III collagen in UL, VL and TL.

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