De-Novo Erythema Nodosum Leprosum Necroticans Mimicking Cutaneous Necrotizing Vasculitis

Abstract

Lepra reactions are events with acute intense tissue damage in an otherwise chronic course of leprosy. Type 2 lepra reaction can present with cutaneous features, classical lesions being erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) and its variants, and/or rheumatological features with polyarthralgia and arthritis along with systemic involvement. The ulceronecrotic variant of ENL is a marker of severe reaction and can mimic other etiologies of cutaneous vasculitides. We present a case of a young female presenting with diffuse scarring ulcers with severe constitutional symptoms, raised cytoplasmic-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA), mimicking necrotizing vasculitis in the absence of overt cutaneous features of leprosy, later diagnosed as ENL necroticans by a slit skin smear.

Cite this article as: Das P, Sharma S, Waheed Kashif A, et al. De-novo erythema nodosum leprosum necroticans mimicking cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis. Eur J Rheumatol. 2025, 12(2), 0112, doi: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2025.24084.