Immunologic studies in patients with sarcoidosis and cryptococcosis

Immunologic studies were performed in two patients with sarcoidosis, who developed cryptococcosis. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte function, complement, and serum antibodies were normal. Both patients had depressed cell-mediated immunity (cmi) to Cryptococcus neoformans and other antigens that persisted after therapy for their infection. These findings suggest that the patients' impaired CMI predisposed them to cryptococcal infection, which complicated their sarcoidosis. Evaluation of sarcoidosis cases should include studies of immune function, and the possibility of a secondary infection should be considered in patients with long-standing sarcoidosis, who develop unexpected changes in their clinical status.