[Role of biochemical markers in sarcoidosis]

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that affects various organs. However, its pathogenesis has not yet been fully understood. Biochemical markers in sarcoidosis appears to be closely related to the immunological events and the activity of inflammatory effector cells at sites of granuloma. These markers, therefore, have been expected to reflect the disease activity and/or to predict prognosis. Although some markers are helpful tools as diagnostic aids and disease activity markers, no single marker allows definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis or may accurately predict the disease prognosis. Among numerous biochemical markers reported previously, only angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) serum level has gained a proven value in the clinical field. Further studies are required to identify more useful biochemical markers, which allow definitive diagnosis or predict the disease activity and prognosis in sarcoidosis.