01303nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002500055653001700080653001200097653001000109100001100119700001100130700001100141700001100152700001100163700001100174245006100185300001400246490000700260520080600267       2014                            d  bKoreaMed10aRheumatoid arthritis10aMisdiagnosis10aleprosy10aKorea1 aLim HS1 aYun SJ1 aLee JB1 aKim SJ1 aLee SC1 aWon YH00aLepromatous Leprosy Misdiagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis  a813–8160 v523 a<p>Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and may manifest variable symptoms and signs. A 63-year-old woman developed multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules on her trunk and extremities and experienced arthralgia. She had been receiving treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. On physical examination, she had atrophy of the hypothenar and thenar muscles, a claw hand, and peripheral neuropathy. Systemic symptoms were accompanied by fatigue, myalgia, malaise, and appetite loss. Histologic examination showed large foamy histiocytes forming granulomas, and numerous acid-fast bacilli and globi were detected on Fite stain. We report lepromatous leprosy mimicking rheumatoid arthritis to highlight the typical manifestation of leprosy mimicking other diseases.</p>