Leprosy is caused by an infection with Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast, slow-growing, obligate intracellular rod-shaped bacillus. Intrapartum leprosy most commonly occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy. This is likely due to pregnancy decreasing cellular immunity, thus allowing the organism to proliferate unchecked. This case report reviews the current understanding of intrapartum leprosy and details the hospital course of a patient who presented with active intrapartum leprosy at 32 weeks gestation.
Keywords: Intrapartum leprosy; lepromatous leprosy; systemic lupus erythematosus; transplacental transmission.