Mycobacterial infection as a precursor to sarcoid-like, corticosteroid-responsive, diffuse granulomatous disease

Evidence for Mycobacteria in Sarcoidosis

“…Nevertheless, several reports have described cases of sarcoidosis preceded by infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) (56,59), M. marinum infection, and other atypical mycobacteria, including Bacille Calmette-Gué rin vaccination (59)(60)(61)(62)(63). Sarcoidosis is one of the conditions to be considered in the differential diagnosis of M. marinum infection, a disease in which AFB are detected in only 22% of active cases (64).…”

Mycobacterium and sarcoidosis: Old wine in a new bottle

“…The association of non-tubercular mycobacteria and sarcoidosis is less well characterized, but steroid responsive sarcoid-like granuloma has been described following Mycobacterium avium-intracellular complex (MAC) infection. [18] Considering mycobacterial antigen being common causative agent, it is likely the same antigen induces an aberrant immune response in a genetically different host that evolves into sarcoidosis. The question that naturally arises is What are the clinical implications of these findings?…”