BACKGROUND: In a family study of sarcoidosis in African-Americans, we detected a positive association between sarcoidosis and ever working in a sales or clerical occupation. This finding, and case reports of granulomatous lung disease in patients with photocopier toner dust exposure, led us to hypothesize that sarcoidosis risk may increase as a result of photocopier exposure. METHODS: Retrospective data on photocopier use and maintenance were collected from African-American sarcoidosis cases and their first degree relatives. The study sample consisted of 181 African-American sibships where one or more members had a history of sarcoidosis (n = 540). RESULTS: Sarcoidosis was statistically significantly associated with ever using a photocopier (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-2.46), and ever changing photocopier toner or carrying out photocopier maintenance (OR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.83-4.54). In a conditional logistic regression model that adjusted for age and sex, the OR associated with a sarcoidosis history and being in the highest tertile of photocopier exposure ranged from 1.83 to 2.19 depending on the exposure measure used. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that photocopier toner dust may be a previously unrecognized antigen in the pathophysiology of some patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND: In a family study of sarcoidosis in African-Americans, we detected a positive association between sarcoidosis and ever working in a sales or clerical occupation. This finding, and case reports of granulomatous lung disease in patients with photocopier toner dust exposure, led us to hypothesize that sarcoidosis risk may increase as a result of photocopier exposure. METHODS: Retrospective data on photocopier use and maintenance were collected from African-American sarcoidosis cases and their first degree relatives. The study sample consisted of 181 African-American sibships where one or more members had a history of sarcoidosis (n = 540). RESULTS:Sarcoidosis was statistically significantly associated with ever using a photocopier (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-2.46), and ever changing photocopier toner or carrying out photocopier maintenance (OR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.83-4.54). In a conditional logistic regression model that adjusted for age and sex, the OR associated with a sarcoidosis history and being in the highest tertile of photocopier exposure ranged from 1.83 to 2.19 depending on the exposure measure used. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that photocopier toner dust may be a previously unrecognized antigen in the pathophysiology of some patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis.
Authors: Kyra A Oswald-Richter; Daniel A Culver; Charlene Hawkins; Rana Hajizadeh; Susamma Abraham; Bryan E Shepherd; Cathy A Jenkins; Marc A Judson; Wonder P Drake Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2009-07-13 Impact factor: 3.441
Authors: A M Levin; M C Iannuzzi; C G Montgomery; S Trudeau; I Datta; P McKeigue; A Fischer; A Nebel; B A Rybicki Journal: Genes Immun Date: 2012-11-15 Impact factor: 2.676
Authors: M Schürmann; R Kwiatkowski; M Albrecht; A Fischer; J Hampe; J Müller-Quernheim; E Schwinger; S Schreiber Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2008-04-16 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Indra Adrianto; Chee Paul Lin; Jessica J Hale; Albert M Levin; Indrani Datta; Ryan Parker; Adam Adler; Jennifer A Kelly; Kenneth M Kaufman; Christopher J Lessard; Kathy L Moser; Robert P Kimberly; John B Harley; Michael C Iannuzzi; Benjamin A Rybicki; Courtney G Montgomery Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-08-27 Impact factor: 3.240