Leprosy Mimicking Thrombangiitis Obliterans (Buerger’s Disease): A Case Study

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), also known as Buerger's disease, is a vasculitis associated with a history of smoking, presenting as limb ischemia. Conversely, leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by <i>Mycobacterium leprae</i> (<i>M. leprae</i>). While leprosy typically presents with neurological signs, this report describes a rare case of atypical borderline lepromatous (BL) leprosy in a type 1 reaction with an initial presentation mimicking TAO in an elderly woman. This atypical presentation, combined with skin changes related to aging, masked the diagnosis of BL leprosy.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-03-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.80822
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Leprosy Research and Treatment
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.40
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article

Leprosy Mimicking Thrombangiitis Obliterans (Buerger’s Disease): A Case Study

Bruno de Carvalho Dornelas, Caio Oliveira Sena, Julia Omar, Isabela Maria Bernardes Goulart et al.
1 citations
Cureus
Leprosy Research and Treatment
1.40
article

Leprosy Mimicking Thrombangiitis Obliterans (Buerger’s Disease): A Case Study

Bruno de Carvalho Dornelas, Caio Oliveira Sena, Julia Omar, Isabela Maria Bernardes Goulart, Paolo Sena
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), also known as Buerger's disease, is a vasculitis associated with a history of smoking, presenting as limb ischemia. Conversely, leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by <i>Mycobacterium leprae</i> (<i>M. leprae</i>). While leprosy typically presents with neurological signs, this report describes a rare case of atypical borderline lepromatous (BL) leprosy in a type 1 reaction with an initial presentation mimicking TAO in an elderly woman. This atypical presentation, combined with skin changes related to aging, masked the diagnosis of BL leprosy.

CureusVol. 17(3)
Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (BR)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Leprosy Research and Treatment
1.40
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