Hansen's disease mimicking a systemic vasculitis

Acta Reumatol Port. 2011 Jan-Mar;36(1):61-4.

Abstract

Hansen's disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, classically presents with cutaneous and neurological manifestations. Rheumatologic manifestations present in 1 to 5% of the patients, and include arthritis, arthralgias, Charcot arthropathy, erythema nodosum and vasculitis. We report a case of a 86 year old woman with polyarthritis, subcutaneous nodules and leg ulcers whose differential diagnosis included primary vasculitis and diffuse connective tissue diseases and ended to be leprosy in a non endemic country.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leprosy / diagnosis*
  • Systemic Vasculitis / diagnosis*