The Kveim test

The Kveim test (Kveim-Nickerson skin test, Kveim-Siltzbach test ) is a test used in the past for the  diagnosis of sarcoidosis.The procedure comprises in administratting a  subcutaneous injection of a splenic or a lymph node homogenate  from a sarcoid patient with evidence of a granulomatous skin reaction at the application site. The test is evaluated in 4-6 weeks.

In patients with sarcoidosis, small dark red nodules form at the application site, biopsies and subsequent histopathological examination from this site show the presence of sarcoid granulomas. .

Eventually,test is indicated in the case of a normal X-ray and CT finding, in the case of uveitis of unclear origin, hypercalciuria, hepatic granulomatous involvement, suspected neurosarcoidosis or recurrent erythema nodosum. However, it is difficult to access, difficult to implement, experience with its interpretation is necessary and there is a risk of transmission of infectious agents, including prions (bovine spongiform encephalopathy ).

Presently, performing the Kveim test is considered unethical. Nowadays the test is therefore not performed.

The test was named after the Norwegian pathologist Morten Ansgar Kveim.

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