title: Role of Propionibacterium Acnes in Sarcoidosis: A Meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the available molecular evidence on the possible role of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in the development of sarcoidosis, the meta-analysis was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control studies from January 1980 to October 2012 on P. acnes associated with sarcoidosis were searched.Overall odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine studies were selected, which included 458 cases and 438 controls. 359 samples from 458 patients were positive with a positive signal rate of 78.4% (33.3% to 92.3%). Significantly elevated sarcoidosis risk was associated with P. acnes (OR = 19.58, 95% CI = 13.06 - 29.36). There was no evidence of publication bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data and meta-analysis supports an association between P. acnes and some cases of sarcoidosis.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China. liw2013@126.com.
authors.forename: Huiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes; D012507:Sarcoidosis