[Löfgren's syndrome, sarcoidosis and Bouillaud's disease]

The authors report two cases of Löfgren's syndrome, preceded by febrile polyarthritis with rise in antistreptolysin titer. The relationship between sarcoidosis and rheumatic fever is discussed. A review of the literature concerning Löfgren's syndrome with joint pain, permitted the authors to follow the course of present pathogenic concepts which haveled to the present opinion of the sarcoidosis nature of Löfgren's syndrome, when the latter is accompanied by erythema nodosum. The prolonged rise in antistreptolysin 0 titer which might suggest rheumatic fever, was not explained, but as the streptococcus was never found in throat swabs, it is probable that this was a non-specific phenomenon. However, certain authors believe that streptococcal infection, where it exists, may play a role, if not in the etiology of the sarcoidosis, at least in the Löfgren's syndrome which may lead to its discovery.