Abstract:

tives and their involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic granulomatous inflammation is briefly reviewed. It can be speculated that in humans, leukocytes laden with intracellular bacteria and their non-degraded highly-phlogistic cell-walls may be translocated from inflamed gums (periodontal disease) and from infected dental pulps (pulpitis, periapical granulomas) to remote sites such as damaged heart valves (causing endocarditis) and injured joints (causing chronic arthritis). This phenomenon maybe important, clinically and is in line with the old “Focus of infection theory” from the nineteen twenties, which is no longer considered and discussed in the modern literature.