Systemic lupus erythematosus mimicking leprosy: A challenge to early diagnosis.

We describe a case of a male patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis. A patient who was initially diagnosed with multibacillary leprosy, an infectious disease, with clinical symptoms for two years. However, after hospitalization and investigation, his diagnosis was revoked and replaced with SLE. The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of knowing the most important and significant clinical changes in SLE and thus allowing an accurate diagnosis, preventing disease progression with target organ involvement, and allowing better clinical management.

TEN mimics: Classification and practical approach to toxic epidermal necrolysis-like dermatoses.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is an acute life-threatening dermatologic emergency. However, many dermatoses can present with a TEN-like eruption. Those "TEN-mimics" are a true diagnostic challenge and an alarming differential diagnosis to such a serious condition. Herein, we will expose and classify the landscape of TEN-mimics. Also, the key differentiating clinical and/or laboratory points will be highlighted to help an accurate diagnosis of either a TEN or a TEN-like presentation.

An evidence and reasoning based differential diagnosis of a case of leprosy reinfection from reaction and relapse.

Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) and is unique in terms of the chronicity of the disease and its prolonged treatment protocol. Even after the introduction of multidrug therapy (MDT) by World health organization (WHO), large numbers of new cases (nearly 200,000) of leprosy are reported yearly, indicating active transmission, especially in developing countries. Recurrent clinical manifestations after MDT can occur due to leprosy reactions, relapse or reinfection. It is very difficult to differentiate reaction, relapse and reinfection. Here we categorized a recent case of reoccurrence of leprosy as reinfection by differentiating it from reaction and relapse based on evidence and by analysing the clinical data of the patient.

The two extremes of Hansen's disease-Different manifestations of leprosy and their biological consequences in an Avar Age (late 7th century CE) osteoarchaeological series of the Duna-Tisza Interfluve (Kiskundorozsma-Daruhalom-dulo II, Hungary).

To give an insight into the different manifestations of leprosy and their biological consequences in the Avar Age of the Hungarian Duna-Tisza Interfluve, two cases from the 7th-century-CE osteoarchaeological series of Kiskundorozsma-Daruhalom-dulo II (Hungary; n = 94) were investigated. Based on the macromorphology of the bony changes indicative of Hansen's disease, KD271 (a middle-aged male) and KD520 (a middle-aged female) represent the two extremes of leprosy. KD271 appears to have an advanced-stage, long-standing near-lepromatous or lepromatous form of the disease, affecting not only the rhinomaxillary region but also both upper and lower limbs. This has led to severe deformation and disfigurement of the involved anatomical areas of the skeleton, resulting in his inability to perform the basic activities of daily living, such as eating, drinking, grasping, standing or walking. The skeleton of KD520 shows no rhinomaxillary lesions and indicates the other extreme of leprosy, a near-tuberculoid or tuberculoid form of the disease. As in KD271, Hansen's disease has resulted in disfigurement and disability of both of the lower limbs of KD520; and thus, the middle-aged female would have experienced difficulties in standing, walking, and conducting occupational physical activities. KD271 and KD520 are amongst the very few published cases with leprosy from the Avar Age of the Hungarian Duna-Tisza Interfluve, and the only examples with detailed macromorphological description and differential diagnoses of the observed leprous bony changes. The cases of these two severely disabled individuals, especially of KD271 -who would have required regular and substantial care from others to survive-imply that in the Avar Age community of Kiskundorozsma-Daruhalom-dulo II there was a willingness to care for people in need.

Central cord syndrome: clinical features, etiological diagnosis, and outcome in 74 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and neurologic signs, diagnostic investigations, definitive or presumptive diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of dogs presented with acute onset central cord syndrome (CCS). ANIMALS: 74 client-owned dogs evaluated for CCS at 5 referral hospitals between January 2016 and March 2021. PROCEDURES: Data were collected from the medical records of each dog, including patient signalment, physical and neurologic examination results, presence of signs of respiratory failure, diagnostic imaging findings, definitive or presumptive diagnosis, treatment and follow-up information. Descriptive statistics were calculated and bivariable analysis was performed to identify associations between selected variables. RESULTS: 2 neuroanatomic locations for the CCS were identified: C1-C5 spinal cord segments in 65 of 74 (88%) dogs and C6-T2 in 9 (12%) dogs. Neurolocalization did not correlate with the imaging findings in 43 (58%) dogs. Different diseases were associated with CCS. The most common condition was Hansen type I disk herniation in 27 (36%) dogs and hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion in 16 (22%) dogs. Main lesion locations within the vertebral column associated with CCS were C3-C4 and C4-C5 intervertebral disk spaces in 21 (28%) and 18 (24%) dogs, respectively. Outcome was favorable in 69 (93%) dogs. Patients presenting with hypoventilation were 14.7 times more likely to have a poor outcome. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CCS in dogs may be seen with lesions in the C1-C5 and C6-T2 spinal cord segments. Etiologies are variable. Total or partial improvement was achieved in most dogs with the appropriate treatment. Hypoventilation was associated with death.

Pigmented transverse nasal band: A review.

Pigmented transverse nasal band/groove is an asymptomatic benign condition, characterized by the development of erythematous to hyperpigmented, well-demarcated, transverse groove at the junction of middle and lower two-third of the nasal dorsum. Although the pathogenesis is unclear, embryologic origin seems to be the most plausible hypothesis. This condition is often associated other related dermatological conditions such as milia, comedones, seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. Diagnosis is mostly clinical, while reassurance is the mainstay of therapy. In persistent cases, topical retinoids have been used. In this article, we have reviewed the different aspects of this condition including treatment, along with the recent updates to create awareness about this dermatological entity.

The historical differential diagnosis of the disease that afflicted Aleijadinho, the famous 18th century Brazilian sculptor.

BACKGROUND: The famous Brazilian Baroque sculptor named Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as "Aleijadinho" (1738-1814), suffered from a deforming disease of the lower and upper limbs. The condition was characterized by atrophy, paresis and amputation. His face was also affected, with inflammation of the eyelids, deviation of the labial commissure, drooping of the chin and lower lip, giving him a sinister expression. Despite the disabling and chronic illness, he produced several works of great expression in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of them were declared World Heritage Sites by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). OBJECTIVE: To discuss the historical differential diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease through a narrative review of the literature. METHODS: Scientific articles were searched in databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Lilacs using the term "Aleijadinho". Subsequently, data were collected in articles and books about the possible diseases of the sculptor. RESULTS: Since the first clinical report on the sculptor, several historians and doctors have attempted to establish a diagnosis and several hypotheses have been proposed such as: syphilis, yaws (frambesia tropica), rheumatoid arthritis, Hansen's disease (leprosy), thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease), zamparina, cardina, porphyria cutanea tarda, stroke, amyloidosis, trauma and/or scurvy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the literature, the authors conclude that the most likely diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease is consistent with leprosy.

The historical differential diagnosis of the disease that afflicted Aleijadinho, the famous 18th century Brazilian sculptor / O histórico diagnóstico diferencial da doença que afetou Aleijadinho, famoso escultor brasileiro do século XVIII

ABSTRACT Background: The famous Brazilian Baroque sculptor named Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as "Aleijadinho" (1738-1814), suffered from a deforming disease of the lower and upper limbs. The condition was characterized by atrophy, paresis and amputation. His face was also affected, with inflammation of the eyelids, deviation of the labial commissure, drooping of the chin and lower lip, giving him a sinister expression. Despite the disabling and chronic illness, he produced several works of great expression in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of them were declared World Heritage Sites by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Objective: To discuss the historical differential diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease through a narrative review of the literature. Methods: Scientific articles were searched in databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Lilacs using the term "Aleijadinho". Subsequently, data were collected in articles and books about the possible diseases of the sculptor. Results: Since the first clinical report on the sculptor, several historians and doctors have attempted to establish a diagnosis and several hypotheses have been proposed such as: syphilis, yaws (frambesia tropica), rheumatoid arthritis, Hansen's disease (leprosy), thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease), zamparina, cardina, porphyria cutanea tarda, stroke, amyloidosis, trauma and/or scurvy. Conclusions: Based on the literature, the authors conclude that the most likely diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease is consistent with leprosy.

RESUMO Antecedentes: O famoso escultor barroco brasileiro Antônio Francisco Lisboa, conhecido como "Aleijadinho", desenvolveu uma doença deformante das extremidades dos membros inferiores e superiores. O distúrbio foi caracterizado por atrofia, paresia e amputação. Seu rosto também foi afetado, com inflamação das pálpebras, desvio da comissura labial, queda do queixo e lábio inferior, dando-lhe uma expressão sinistra. Apesar da doença incapacitante e crônica, ele produziu diversas obras de grande expressão durante os séculos XVIII e XIX. Algumas delas também foram consideradas patrimônios da humanidade pela Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, a Ciência e a Cultura (UNESCO). Objetivo: Discutir o diagnóstico diferencial histórico da doença de Aleijadinho por meio de uma revisão narrativa da literatura. Métodos: Artigos científicos e livros foram pesquisados em bases de dados como Google Scholar, PubMed e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) utilizando como termo principal "Aleijadinho". Posteriormente, foram coletados dados em artigos e livros sobre as possíveis doenças do escultor. Resultados: Desde o primeiro relato da clínica do escultor, vários historiadores e médicos tentaram estabelecer um diagnóstico e várias hipóteses foram sugeridas, como: sífilis, bouba (framboesia trópica), artrite reumatoide, hanseníase (lepra), tromboangeíte obliterante (doença de Buerger), zamparina, cardina, porfiria cutânea tarda, acidente vascular encefálico, amiloidose, trauma e/ou escorbuto. Conclusões: Com base na literatura, os autores concluem que o diagnóstico mais provável da doença de Aleijadinho é compatível com hanseníase.

The red flags of ulnar neuropathy in leprosy.

The diagnosis of pure neural leprosy is more challenging because patients share characteristics with other common pathologies, such as ulnar compression, which should be taken into consideration for differential diagnosis. In this study, we identify ulnar nerve conduction characteristics to aid in the differential diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy (UN) in leprosy and that of non-leprosy etiology. In addition, we include putative markers to better understand the inflammatory process that may occur in the nerve. Data were extracted from a database of people affected by leprosy (leprosy group) diagnosed with UN at leprosy diagnosis. A non-leprosy group of patients diagnosed with mechanical neuropathy (compressive, traumatic) was also included. Both groups were submitted to clinical, neurological, neurophysiological and immunological studies. Nerve enlargement and sensory impairment were significantly higher in leprosy patients than in patients with compressive UN. Bilateral impairment was significantly higher in the leprosy group than in the non-leprosy group. Leprosy reactions were associated to focal demyelinating lesions at the elbow and to temporal dispersion (TD). Clinical signs such as sensory impairment, nerve enlargement and bilateral ulnar nerve injury associated with eletrodiagnostic criteria such as demyelinating finds, specifically temporal dispersion, could be tools to help us decided on the best conduct in patients with elbow ulnar neuropathy and specifically decide if we should perform a nerve biopsy for diagnosis of pure neural leprosy.

Isolated Leprosy of Bilateral Ear Lobes, A Rare Presentation of Leprosy.

Hansen disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It can present with a variety of clinical manifestations depending on the immune status. Ear lobes are commonly involved in leprosy. However, isolated earlobe involvement of both ear lobes is rare. We present a case of a 25-year-old man who presented with isolated swelling of both pinna, which on slit skin smear turned to be multi-bacillary leprosy. The bilateral pinna swelling started as asymptomatic, multiple skin colored shiny papules which progressively became lobular over a period of a year. Isolated involvement of the pinna in a patient without lesions in other body parts is an unusual initial presentation of leprosy. However, leprosy should be kept as a rare differential diagnosis of isolated lesions on the ear in patients not responding to conventional treatment.