@article{17879,
  keywords = {Acute disease, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Arthritis, Infectious, Female, Humans, leprosy, Male, Middle Aged, Mycobacterium leprae, Radiography},
  author = {Gibson T and Ahsan Q and Hussein K},
  title = {Arthritis of leprosy.},
  abstract = {<p>An inflammatory polyarthritis has been previously described in leprosy but accounts of the clinical characteristics have varied. All patients with joint symptoms admitted to a leprosy centre over 5 months were examined by a rheumatologist. Of 48 acute admissions, 20 (42%) had a symmetrical polyarthritis affecting the wrists and fingers. This was strikingly similar to RA in appearance. The arthritis occurred exclusively in patients with reactions mainly during anti-mycobacterial treatment. The clinical features of the joint disorder were identical in Type I (associated with alterations in immune status) and Type II (erythema nodosum leprosum) reactions. Synovial tissue from one patient revealed no mycobacteria. Four of five hand X-rays suggested small erosions of the finger joints.</p>},
  year = {1994},
  journal = {British journal of rheumatology},
  volume = {33},
  pages = {963-6},
  month = {1994 Oct},
  issn = {0263-7103},
  doi = {10.1093/rheumatology/33.10.963},
  language = {eng},
}