An unusual cause of granulomatous disease

Andrew PC Mclean-Tooke¹ , Catherine Aldridge² , Kimberley Gilmour³ , Bernard Higgins⁴ , Mark Hudson⁵ and Gavin P Spickett¹

¹Department of Immunology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK

²Department of Microbiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK

³Molecular Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK

⁴Department of Respiratory Medicine, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK

⁵Regional Liver Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK

author email corresponding author email

BMC Clinical Pathology 2007, 7:1doi:10.1186/1472-6890-7-1


Published:	2 March 2007

Abstract

Background

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of phagocytic cells caused by an inability to generate active microbicidal oxygen species required kill certain types of fungi and bacteria. This leads to recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections with tissue granuloma formation.

Case presentation

We describe a case of X-linked Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) diagnosed in an 18-year-old male. He initially presented with granulomatous disease mimicking sarcoidosis and was treated with corticosteroids. He subsequently developed Burkholderia cepacia complex pneumonia and further investigation confirmed a diagnosis of CGD.

Conclusion

Milder phenotypes of CGD are now being recognised. CGD should be considered in patients of any age with granulomatous diseases, especially if there is a history of recurrent or atypical infection.