[A case of sarcoidosis with increased CD3+ WT31- CD16+ lymphocytes]

Increase of CD16+ cells in the peripheral blood is not uncommon for sarcoidosis. However, further subclassification of such cells have not been reported yet. Here, we report a case of sarcoidosis developed in 71 year-old female who had abundant CD16+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and most of them were revealed to be CD3+ WT31- by analysis using cell sorting. Although exact role of these cells is remained to be solved, they seem to be implicated in the immune disorder of this disease.