Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and Type 1 lepra reaction: a rare association

Lepra reactions are important causes of the disability and deformity associated with leprosy. Normal body tissues suffer during these periods of hypersensitivity response mounted by the body against the antigens of Mycobacterium leprae. Chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy manifesting several years after reversal reaction is reported in the literature. It is attributed to the autoimmune reaction precipitated by the exposure of neural antigens (following the injury caused by the Type 1 lepra reaction) to the body’s immune system. Here we report a patient who presented with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy during a Type 1 lepra reaction.