01315nas a2200157   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042100002600054700001400080700001300094700001300107700001100120245008400131520092800215022001401143       2020                            d  c03/20201 ado Espírito Santo RB1 aSerafim R1 aBitran J1 aCollin S1 aDeps P00aCase Report: Leprosy Osteoarticular Alterations Mimicking Rheumatoid Arthritis.3 a<p>Deformities of bones of the face and extremities are markers of leprosy (Hansen's disease) which contribute to stigma associated with this disease. Among these deformities are articular alterations that can mimic rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this case, a 64-year-old man presented with a history of having been treated for lepromatous leprosy and erythema nodosum leprosum episodes, which evolved with joint alterations similar to those of RA. Most cases of leprosy-related arthritis are associated with reactional episodes, of which a large number do not respond to conventional therapy for leprosy reactions. In cases of chronic arthritis not associated with leprosy reactions, although patients show considerable relief with anti-leprosy therapy, arthritis is not completely resolved. This emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy to prevent the development of osteoarticular alterations.</p>  a1476-1645