Patient demographics, in vivo confocal microscopy and immunohistological findings
| n/67 | (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristics | ||
| Female | 37 | (55.2) |
| Age (years) | ||
| 34–45 | 3 | (4.5) |
| 45–55 | 8 | (11.9) |
| 55–65 | 16 | (23.9) |
| 65–75 | 18 | (26.9) |
| 75–85 | 16 | (23.9) |
| 85–95 | 6 | (9.0) |
| Ethnic group | ||
| Maasai | 28 | (41.8) |
| Chagga | 18 | (26.9) |
| Pare | 8 | (11.9) |
| Other | 13 | (19.4) |
| In vivo confocal microscopy findings | ||
| Median connective tissue scarring score (IQR) n=51* | 1.00 | (0.38–2.50) |
| Connective tissue scarring grade (n (%)) n=51* | ||
| 0–1 | 26 | (51.0) |
| >1–2 | 9 | (17.6) |
| >2–3 | 16 | (31.4) |
| Median inflammatory cell infiltrate (IQR) n=50* | 1207 | (830–2034) |
| Dendritiform cells present (n (%)) n=54* | 17 | (31.5) |
| Immunohistological findings | ||
| Subepithelial connective tissue scarring grade (n (%)) n=60† | ||
| 0 | 29 | (48.3) |
| 1 | 18 | (30.0) |
| 2 | 12 | (20.0) |
| 3 | 1 | (1.7) |
| Tarsal connective tissue scarring grade (n (%)) n=45† | ||
| 0 | 31 | (68.9) |
| 1 | 5 | (11.1) |
| 2 | 7 | (15.6) |
| 3 | 2 | (4.4) |
| Inflammatory cell infiltrate on H&E stain (n (%)) n=65† | ||
| 0 | 16 | (24.6) |
| 1 | 29 | (44.6) |
| 2 | 11 | (16.9) |
| 3 | 9 | (13.9) |
| Cellular CD83 staining (n (%)) n=65† | ||
| 0 | 14 | (21.5) |
| 1 | 32 | (49.2) |
| 2 | 18 | (27.7) |
| 3 | 1 | (1.5) |
| Median number of CD45 cells with dendritic morphology (IQR) n=67† | 6 | (4–8) |
*In vivo confocal microscopy was successfully performed on 54 out of the 67 participants. A small number of the scans were not suitable for connective tissue scarring grading or inflammatory cell counting.
†Some samples did not yield gradable sections and several sections did not have adequate tarsal tissue for grading of the connective tissue scarring.