[Borrelia burgdorferi may be the causal agent of sarcoidosis]

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 1992 Oct;30(10):631-3, 659.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Serum antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi was measured in 33 patients with sarcoidosis who were confirmed clinically and pathologically. The results showed that 81.8% of the patients were positive. In addition, a strain of Borrelia burgdorferi was isolated from a patient's blood. Fourteen patients received ceftriaxone 2 g per day and/or penicillin 12 million per day and a patient received lincomycin 1.2 g per day. The antibody titer of the patients turned to normal level, their SACE turned to normal range, and chest X-ray findings were markedly improved in 3 cases after the treatment. According to the facts mentioned above, we consider that Borrelia burgdorferi may be the causal agent of sarcoidosis and sarcoidosis might be a special type of Lyme disease.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group* / immunology
  • Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Penicillins / therapeutic use
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy
  • Sarcoidosis / microbiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Penicillins
  • Ceftriaxone