Leprosy Presenting with Iridocyclitis: A Diagnostic Dilemma

PURPOSE: To report a case of lepromatous iridocyclitis that posed a diagnostic challenge. CASE REPORT: A 50-yeasr-old male developed profound loss of vision in the right eye, while he was in the hospital with septicemia presenting with fever, dysuria, and abdominal swelling. He also developed erythema nodosum on the legs. Skin incisional biopsy section, upon dermatology consultation, showed a granulomatous nodule in the dermis. The anterior chamber aspirate demonstrated lepra bacilli, which confirmed the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy with type II reaction. The patient was treated with multidrug therapy and oral and topical steroids. CONCLUSION: This case highlights that the lepromatous iridocyclitis, a serious vision-threatening disorder requires a high index of suspicion for prompt diagnosis in atypical cases particularly in endemic areas. Examination of the aqueous humor can also be helpful in diagnosis.