Hansen’s Arthritis: An Overlooked Entity.

ABSTRACT

Leprosy, a chronic granulomatous infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae, classically presents with cutaneous and neurological manifestations. Musculoskeletal involvement, though third most common presentation, is underdiagnosed and underreported. It may manifest in the form of Charcot’s arthropathy, acute symmetrical polyarthritis or swollen hands and feet syndrome during lepra reactions, insidious-onset chronic symmetrical polyarthritis mimicking rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or as isolated tenosynovitis or tenosynovitis associated with arthritis or neuropathy. At times, articular involvement may be the sole presenting manifestation even without cutaneous lesions. Other rheumatological manifestations occasionally reported are enthesitis, sacroiliitis, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and DM. Delay in diagnosis and management may be detrimental and may result in deformities and loss of function. This case report aimed at presenting a comprehensive clinical scenario of various rheumatological manifestations of leprosy to sensitize rheumatologists and physicians across the continents.