Crohn's Disease and Sarcoidosis

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Abstract
The etiology of Crohn's disease has eluded investigators since its modern description 40 years ago, but recently there has been renewed interest in a possible pathogenetic link to sarcoidosis. Histologically, both diseases may show noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas with Langhans-type giant cells, and shared clinical features may include uveitis, erythema nodosum, arthritis and a favorable response to corticosteroid therapy. Yet it is widely accepted that the two are clinically and anatomically distinct syndromes and that symptomatic intestinal sarcoidosis does not occur. Furthermore, early reports described grossly negative Kveim tests in patients with Crohn's disease. What, then, has occurred to refocus . . .