granulomatous inflammation
Last reviewed 01/2018
Granulomatous inflammation is a subtype of chronic inflammation. It is characterised by the formation of granulomas. It can be caused by infectious and non-infectious agents:
- infection:
- tuberculosis, causing a classical tubercle
- leprosy
- syphilis
- brucellosis
- cat scratch disease
- granuloma inguinale
- Schistosomiasis
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Coccidiodes immitis
- inorganic material:
- silica
- berylium
- asbestos
- pneumoconiosis
- talc
- zirconium
- systemic diseases:
- sarcoidosis
- rheumatoid arthritis, causing rheumatoid nodules
- Wegener's granulomatosis
- Crohn's disease
Granulomatous inflammation is characterised by either a deficiency in:
- ability to digest and degrade phagocytosed particle
- activated cell-mediated immunity as witnessed by the frequent occurrence of lymphocytes
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly termed Wegener's granulomatosis)