01502nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001500054653001500069653001500084100001000099700001400109700001300123700001300136245007600149490000700225520106200232022001401294       2026                            d  c04/202610aHIV / AIDS10aImmunology10aInfections1 aDeo K1 aAgarwal A1 aSharma Y1 aRamesh S00aFalse-positive HIV-2 serology in a patient with multibacillary leprosy.0 v193 a<p>False-positive HIV-2 serology poses a diagnostic challenge, particularly in chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases that induce polyclonal B cell activation. Leprosy, caused by , is one such condition known to produce immunologic cross-reactivity with HIV antigens. We report the case of a woman in her seventh decade with multibacillary Hansen's disease in a Type 1 (reversal) reaction who showed reactivity for HIV-2 antibodies on a fourth-generation chemiluminescent immunoassay despite having no risk factors for HIV-2 infection. She was clinically stable on multidrug therapy (MDT), and a confirmatory qualitative real-time PCR for HIV-2 RNA was negative, confirming a false-positive result. Laboratory tests showed mild anaemia and leucocytosis with normal hepatic and renal function. She was treated with corticosteroids while continuing MDT, with improvement over 3 weeks. This case highlights the need for confirmatory nucleic acid testing in hypergammaglobulinaemic states to avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary therapy and social stigma.</p>  a1757-790X