Fig 1.

In vivo confocal microscopy grading system of inflammatory features. Images are 400 by 400 μm. (A) Inflammatory infiltrate: seen as multiple bright white nuclei. The mean inflammatory cell density of three randomly selected volume scans is calculated using the HRT/RCM software. The individual scan with the highest density of cells from within the volume scan is used for inflammatory cell density counting. (B) Dendritiform cells: graded as present or absent. To be present, the mean number of DCs per volume scan needs to be ≥1. The largest number of dendritiform cells in any individual scan in a volume scan is used for measurement. A mean number of ≥1 is used to differentiate occasional dendritiform cells seen in scans of otherwise normal subjects. (C) Tissue edema: seen as multiple black empty spaces. Graded as present or absent in any volume scan. (D) Papillae: seen as elevations with a central vascular network. Graded as present or absent in any volume scan.