01472nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001800055653001500073653001000088653000900098653002600107653002600133653001100159653001100170653001200181653000900193653001600202653002500218653001600243100001300259700001200272700001400284245002600298300001000324490000700334520080300341022001401144       1994                            d  c1994 Oct10aAcute disease10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aAnti-Bacterial Agents10aArthritis, Infectious10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae10aRadiography1 aGibson T1 aAhsan Q1 aHussein K00aArthritis of leprosy.  a963-60 v333 a<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>  a0263-7103