[Identification of propionibacterium acnes in a case with stage III pulmonary sarcoidosis involving hepatosplenic disease]

Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi. 2006 Sep;44(9):625-30.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 35-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal chest radiograph. Chest X-ray on admission showed multiple small nodular shadows in both lung fields but no bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL). Moreover, abdominal CT showed some nodules in the liver and spleen, and serum ACE was slightly increased to 23.3U/L (normal range: 8.3-21.4U/L). Transbronchial lung biopsy and liver biopsy resulted in a diagnosis of stage III pulmonary sarcoidosis with hepatosplenic disease. Histopathological findings demonstrated non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas with giant cells in both specimens. Interestingly, propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the possible pathogen of sarcoidosis, was detected in giant cells in the lung and epitheliod cell granuloma of liver tissue. This case was of interest considering P. acnes might have been the causative pathogen.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / complications*
  • Propionibacterium acnes / immunology*
  • Propionibacterium acnes / pathogenicity
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / microbiology
  • Splenic Diseases / complications*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial