01514nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001100065653001200076653002800088653001100116653001100127653001200138653000900150653001600159653001500175653002300190653001700213653000900230100001300239700001500252700001500267700001700282700001300299700001500312245005300327300001000380490000700390520075300397022001401150       1999                            d  c1999 Jun10aAdult10aBiopsy10aDapsone10aDiagnosis, Differential10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aPrednisone10aRheumatic Diseases10aRheumatology10aSkin1 aSamant R1 aNadkar M Y1 aVaidya S S1 aChhugani S J1 aBalaji R1 aBorges N E00aLeprosy: a close mimic in a rheumatology clinic.  a576-90 v473 a<p>Cutaneous and neurological manifestations of leprosy are readily diagnosed. However, physicians sometimes fail to recognize that leprosy may present with a rheumatic symptoms. A plethora of rheumatic manifestations are associated with leprosy, particularly with lepra reactions. A diligent examination for skin lesions/nerve involvement may uncover the diagnosis of leprosy in a patient referred for a rheumatological disorder. To highlight the fact that leprosy can mimic several rheumatological disorders, we have discussed a few representative cases seen over the past two years at our rheumatology clinic in a teaching hospital. In all these cases, a diagnosis of leprosy was made when the patient was referred for a rheumatic complaint.</p>  a0004-5772