A case of leprosy in an African albino.

The fol lowing report of the occurrence of tuberculoid leprosy in an albino is of interest since , as far as can be ascertained , no such case has been reported previously . A young adult male peasan t (age between 2 6 a n d 3 0 years) from the rural part of M orogoro District , sought admission to the Chazi leprosarium on 20 May , 1 97 1 , because of plantar ulcers on both fee t . He said he had had leprosy since 1 96 1 , for which he had received treatmen t irregularly at an out-patien t clinic . C lin ical exam ination disclosed incomplete albinism , with nys tagmus. There were a num ber of small pigmented areas on the skin . No malignan t changes were seen . Two residual tu berculoid lesions were present in the left loin , in which there was diminished sensation to light touch . The ulnar-innervated muscles of the right hand were wasted , and there was obvious absorp tion of the bones of the ungual and interm ediate phalanges of the 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th fingers . In the left hand there was absorption of the ungual phalanges , and scars of old injuries. The toes of both feet had been lost from ulceration , and ulcers were present over the heads of both first m etatarsals . The right lateral popliteal nerve was enlarged . The skin smears showed no leprosy bacilli . The plantar ulcers healed in 3 months with rest and the wearing of sandals wi th microcellular rubber in-soles .