01221nas a2200109   4500000000100000008004100001100001200042245009900054856006300153490000700216520088800223       2019                            d1 aTyagi S00aBilateral symmetric polyarthritis with deformities – Is it always connective tissue disease?  uhttp://www.jiacm.in/pdf2019/Journal75_PDF_Page_227_229.pdf0 v203 aLeprosy is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease which is caused by Mycobacterium leprae and has varied manifestations
including arthritis. Cutaneous and neurological manifestations are classical presentations of leprosy. Musculoskeletal involvement
is the third most common manifestation but is less frequently reported. Joint involvement can present as acute symmetrical
polyarthritis or chronic polyarthritis resembling rheumatoid arthritis. Leprosy is seen in high prevalence in some developing countries
however, it is rarely seen in non-endemic regions. Arthritis can be present in all types of leprosy. Chronic arthritis is known to exist even
in paucibacillary forms, resolved or treated disease and in patients without reaction, suggesting a perpetuated inflammatory
process. In these cases leprosy can mimic some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.