Leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case report
Abstract Background Leprosy is rare within non-endemic countries such as Canada, where cases are almost exclusively imported from endemic regions, often presenting after an incubation period of as many as 20 years. Due to its rarity and prolonged incubation period, diagnosis is often delayed, which...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08811-x |
| _version_ | 1797453770249994240 |
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| author | Matt Driedger Iris Teo Virginia Roth |
| author_facet | Matt Driedger Iris Teo Virginia Roth |
| author_sort | Matt Driedger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Leprosy is rare within non-endemic countries such as Canada, where cases are almost exclusively imported from endemic regions, often presenting after an incubation period of as many as 20 years. Due to its rarity and prolonged incubation period, diagnosis is often delayed, which may result in neurologic impairment prior to the initiation of treatment. In this report we describe a case that is novel in its incubation period, which is the longest reported to-date and may have contributed to diagnostic delay. The case also uniquely demonstrates the challenges of distinguishing leprosy reactions from new rheumatologic manifestations in a patient with established autoimmune disease. Case presentation We describe an 84-year-old male patient with rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, with no travel history outside Canada for 56 years, who presented in 2019 with new-onset paresthesias and rash. His paresthesias persisted despite a short course of prednisone, and his rash recurred after initial improvement. He underwent skin biopsy in May 2021, which eventually led to the diagnosis of leprosy. He was diagnosed with type 1 reaction and was started on rifampin, dapsone, clofazimine and prednisone, with which his rash resolved but his neurologic impairment remained. Conclusion This case report serves to highlight the potential for leprosy to present after markedly prolonged incubation periods. This is especially relevant in non-endemic countries that is home to an aging demographic of individuals who migrated decades ago from endemic countries. The importance of this concept is emphasized by the persistent neurologic impairment suffered by our case due to untreated type 1 reaction. We also demonstrate the necessity of skin biopsy in distinguishing this diagnosis from other autoimmune mimics in a patient with known autoimmune disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:27:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf2c8b6b3eae4c61aff37724e39b4126 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:27:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf2c8b6b3eae4c61aff37724e39b41262023-11-26T12:26:59ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342023-11-012311710.1186/s12879-023-08811-xLeprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case reportMatt Driedger0Iris Teo1Virginia Roth2University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaUniversity of OttawaAbstract Background Leprosy is rare within non-endemic countries such as Canada, where cases are almost exclusively imported from endemic regions, often presenting after an incubation period of as many as 20 years. Due to its rarity and prolonged incubation period, diagnosis is often delayed, which may result in neurologic impairment prior to the initiation of treatment. In this report we describe a case that is novel in its incubation period, which is the longest reported to-date and may have contributed to diagnostic delay. The case also uniquely demonstrates the challenges of distinguishing leprosy reactions from new rheumatologic manifestations in a patient with established autoimmune disease. Case presentation We describe an 84-year-old male patient with rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, with no travel history outside Canada for 56 years, who presented in 2019 with new-onset paresthesias and rash. His paresthesias persisted despite a short course of prednisone, and his rash recurred after initial improvement. He underwent skin biopsy in May 2021, which eventually led to the diagnosis of leprosy. He was diagnosed with type 1 reaction and was started on rifampin, dapsone, clofazimine and prednisone, with which his rash resolved but his neurologic impairment remained. Conclusion This case report serves to highlight the potential for leprosy to present after markedly prolonged incubation periods. This is especially relevant in non-endemic countries that is home to an aging demographic of individuals who migrated decades ago from endemic countries. The importance of this concept is emphasized by the persistent neurologic impairment suffered by our case due to untreated type 1 reaction. We also demonstrate the necessity of skin biopsy in distinguishing this diagnosis from other autoimmune mimics in a patient with known autoimmune disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08811-xMycobacterium lepraeLeprosyReactionOntarioNeuropathy |
| spellingShingle | Matt Driedger Iris Teo Virginia Roth Leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case report BMC Infectious Diseases Mycobacterium leprae Leprosy Reaction Ontario Neuropathy |
| title | Leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case report |
| title_full | Leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case report |
| title_short | Leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from Ontario, Canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy: a case report |
| title_sort | leprosy with type 1 reaction in a patient from ontario canada without recent travel misdiagnosed as vasculitic neuropathy a case report |
| topic | Mycobacterium leprae Leprosy Reaction Ontario Neuropathy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08811-x |
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