Leprosy: A Mimicker of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease which can affect the musculoskeletal system in one-third of the patients. Leprosy may manifest with symptoms that usually mimic classic autoimmune disease. A 71-year-old male presented to us with inflammatory arthritis with rheumatoid factor positivity and was being treated as rheumatoid arthritis. Skin and neuropathic symptoms with anticyclic citrullinated antibody negativity helped us keep leprosy as a differential. Therefore, a skin biopsy was performed which confirmed lepromatous leprosy. Initial presentation with musculoskeletal symptoms in leprosy can delay its diagnosis and treatment leading to increased morbidity.
Authors: Gaurav Seth, Rajednder Singla, Deepika Parwan, Astha Gupta
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4406301386