title: Considering an infectious etiology of sarcoidosis.
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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210-1252, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ezzie
authors.forename: Elliott D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Crouser
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D006105:Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics