Systemic Sarcoidosis Associated with Exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi in a 21-Year-Old Man
  • Lars van Dee
    Universitair Medisch Centrum, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Mylene Stehouwer
    Gelre Ziekenhuizen, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
  • Thomas van Bemmel
    Gelre Ziekenhuizen, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

Keywords

Borrelia burgdorferi, neuroborreliosis, sarcoidosis

Abstract

Objective: Here we describe a rare case of systemic sarcoidosis in a healthy young man with neuroborreliosis as a putative trigger.
Case: A 21-year-old forestry worker was diagnosed with systemic sarcoidosis involving his lungs, kidneys and skin. Additional diagnostics revealed signs indicative of a recent infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. The patient was treated successfully with prednisolone and antibiotics.
Conclusion: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology. This case suggests that an infection with B. burgdorferi, the causal agent of Lyme disease, could act as a trigger for sarcoidosis.

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    Published: 2018-09-24
    Issue: Vol 5 No 10 (view)


    How to cite:
    1.
    van Dee L, Stehouwer M, van Bemmel T. Systemic Sarcoidosis Associated with Exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi in a 21-Year-Old Man. EJCRIM 2018;5 doi:10.12890/2018_000942.