Sacoidosis link to infection

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Clinics in Dermatology

Volume 25, Issue 3, May-June 2007, Pages 259-266

Considering an infectious etiology of sarcoidosis

E. Ezzie MDa and Elliott D. Crouser MD, a,

aDivision of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio

State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210-1252, USA

Available online 6 June 2007.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause. An

infectious etiology of sarcoidosis has long been suspected, but only

recently has scientific evidence provided a strong link between

infectious agents and sarcoidosis. Moreover, recent advances in our

understanding of the relationships between sarcoidosis phenotype and

host genetic factors may further illuminate the mechanisms linking

infection and sarcoidosis.

Article Outline

Introduction

Antigenic determinants of granulomatous inflammation

Evidence supporting an infectious cause of sarcoidosis

Mycobacteria

Propionibacteria

Other bacteria

Cell wall–deficient bacteria

Viruses

Host immunity and sarcoidosis risk

The interface between genetics and infection: lessons learned from

other granulomatous diseases

Candidate sarcoidosis-causing genes and their relation to infection

References