title: Tuberculosis or sarcoidosis: Opposite ends of the same disease spectrum?
abstract: Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are chronic systemic diseases that have similar pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations. Multiple studies have found an epidemiological, molecular, and immunological link between the two. It has been suggested that mycobacterium tuberculosis could be a common pathophysiologic mechanism for tuberculosis and sarcoidosis, and that both clinical entities can trigger similar immunological response in patients. Due to this close association, together with possible coexistence in the same patient, the diagnosis of one disease from another may be difficult. In our paper, we suggest that tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are two ends of the same spectrum. Given the pathophysiological and clinical link between the two, we also propose a classification system for tuberculosis and sarcoidosis: Sarcoidosis (S); Sarcoid-Tuberculous (ST); Tuberculous Sarcoid (TS) and Tuberculosis (TB). More research and clinical trials should first be done to affirm the link between the two disease entities.
authors.affiliation: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Singapore; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: rupesh_agrawal@ttsh.com.sg.
authors.forename: Rupesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: A0084529@u.nus.edu.
authors.forename: Ae Ra
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.affiliation: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Singapore. Electronic address: leslie.ang@mohh.com.sg.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.affiliation: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Singapore. Electronic address: tunhang.yeo@mohh.com.sg.
authors.forename: Yeo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tun Hang
authors.affiliation: Advanced Eye Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: vishalisara@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Vishali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: Onn.Kon@imperial.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Onn Min
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Kon
authors.affiliation: St Mary's NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: Donald.mitchell@imperial.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: Manfred.Zierhut@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zierhut
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: carlos.pavesio@moorfields.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pavesio
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
keywords: Sarcoid tuberculosis (ST); Sarcoidosis; Tuberculosis; Tuberculous sarcoid (TS)