Leprosy: A Mimicker of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease which can affect the musculoskeletal system in one-third of the patients. Leprosy may manifest with symptoms that usually mimic classic autoimmune disease. A 71-year-old male presented to us with inflammatory arthritis with rheumatoid factor positivity and was being treated as rheumatoid arthritis. Skin and neuropathic symptoms with anticyclic citrullinated antibody negativity helped us keep leprosy as a differential. Therefore, a skin biopsy was performed which confirmed lepromatous leprosy. Initial presentation with musculoskeletal symptoms in leprosy can delay its diagnosis and treatment leading to increased morbidity.