01507nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653002100054653002500075653002500100653002200125100001700147700001500164700001400179700001600193700001400209700001400223245008800237856008000325300001400405490000700419520083900426       2017                            d10aleprosy10aHansen's disease10aMycobacterium leprae10aRheumatoid arthritis10aRheumatoid Factor1 aAndrade TCPC1 aMartins TY1 aVieira BC1 aSantiago TM1 aSoares CT1 aBarreto J00aLepromatous leprosy simulating rheumatoid arthritis - Report of a neglected disease  uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5514583/pdf/abd-92-03-0389.pdf  a389–3910 v923 a<p>Brazil has the second largest number of leprosy cases in the world; nevertheless, late diagnosis is common. We report the case of a male patient with pain and numbness in both hands and feet for six years with positive rheumatoid factor and anticardiolipin under rheumatoid arthritis treatment for five years. Examination revealed diffuse cutaneous infiltration and leonine facies, characteristic features of lepromatous leprosy. Autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor and anticardiolipin are markers of rheumatic autoimmune diseases, but their presence is also described in leprosy. We report the present case in order to alert health professionals to remember leprosy, even in areas where the disease is considered eliminated as a public health problem, avoiding misinterpretations of serologic findings and misdiagnosis.</p>