Rheumatological manifestations of leprosy

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology

Background:

• Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, often presents with diverse rheumatological symptoms.
• Understanding these manifestations is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and spectrum of rheumatological manifestations in leprosy patients.
• To characterize the distinct patterns observed in patients referred from a leprosy clinic versus those presenting initially to a rheumatology clinic.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 30 leprosy patients was conducted.
• Patients were categorized into two groups: those referred from a leprosy clinic and those diagnosed de novo in a rheumatology clinic.
• Clinical manifestations and rheumatoid factor status were assessed.

Main Results:

• Polyarthritis resembling rheumatoid arthritis was the most common finding (64.7%) in patients referred from the leprosy clinic.
• Tenosynovitis was the most frequent manifestation (38.5%) in patients initially presenting to the rheumatology clinic.
• Rheumatoid factor was positive in 60% of the studied patients.

Conclusions:

• Rheumatological symptoms are a significant feature of leprosy, varying in presentation based on the diagnostic pathway.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering leprosy in patients with unexplained rheumatological conditions, particularly polyarthritis and tenosynovitis.
• Positive rheumatoid factor in a considerable proportion of patients suggests an autoimmune component or cross-reactivity in leprosy-associated arthropathy.