A Case Report of Multibacillary Leprosy Presenting with Multiple Outbreaks of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum

  • R. Bouceiro-Mendes Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
  • A. Ortins-Pina Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
  • T. Marques Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
  • M. Viveiros Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • D. Machado Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • L. Lito Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
  • J. Ferreira Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
  • L. Soares-de-Almeida Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • J. P. Freitas Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
  • P. Filipe Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Keywords: Erythema Nodosum, Leprosy, Lepromatous, Multibacillary

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease with a long incubation period caused by Mycobacterium leprae that mainly affects the skin, mucous membranes and the peripheral nervous system. It carries the risk of per-manent sequels with a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life. It has a considerable clinically diver-sity and possible atypical presentations. We present a case of a 31-year-old, skin phototype V woman with multibacillary leprosy characterized by multiple outbreaks of erythema nodosum leprosum, as an inaugural manifestation of the disease. The disease was acquired within a group of children and adolescents from an endemic region of Africa, evolved untreated for 3 years, and presented with unusual features and remarkable lymphatic involvement. We highlight the importance of building and maintaining collaboration between expert centers and institutional partnerships in order to provide the adequate diagnostic resources and appropriate care to the affected populations.

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Published
2019-03-26
How to Cite
Bouceiro-Mendes, R., Ortins-Pina, A., Marques, T., Viveiros, M., Machado, D., Lito, L., Ferreira, J., Soares-de-Almeida, L., Freitas, J. P., & Filipe, P. (2019). A Case Report of Multibacillary Leprosy Presenting with Multiple Outbreaks of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum. Journal of the Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology, 77(1), 67-72. https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.77.1.1015
Section
Case Reports