title: [Leprosy simulating other diseases].
abstract: The low current prevalence of leprosy in Spain together with the diversity of its clinical expression make the detection of this disease difficult. Three native and three imported cases are here reported. Different specialists mistook this disease for other entities: familial polyneuropathy, autoimmune disease, tuberculosis, cutaneous mycosis, and cutaneous sarcoidosis. Lepra is a very polymorphic disease and its diagnosis is based on finding cutaneous hypoesthesic lesions, neural thickening and presence of acid-fast bacilli (in cutaneous specimens or nasal exudates).
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Vélez
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sáez Vaquero
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blanco Arévalo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez Mampaso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015439:Leprosy, Borderline / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents
vernacular_title: Lepra simulando otras enfermedades.