Systemic Sarcoidosis Associated with Exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi in a 21-Year-Old Man

Authors

• Lars van Dee Universitair Medisch Centrum, Utrecht, The Netherlands
• Mylene Stehouwer Gelre Ziekenhuizen, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
• Thomas van Bemmel Gelre Ziekenhuizen, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

larsvandee@gmail.com

Keywords

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.