A case of sarcoidosis associated with bronchial asthma

A 54-year-old woman was treated for bronchial asthma for 14 yr. In March of 1989, chest roentgenography and computed tomography (CT) revealed development of bilateral pulmonary hilar lymph node enlargement. Positive 67Ga uptake was observed in bilateral pulmonary hili. Although levels of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and lysozyme were within normal range, biopsy specimen of scalene lymph nodes showed noncaseating epitheloid-cell granuloma, leading to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Steroid therapy ameliorated both sarcoidosis and bronchial asthma. Although the association of sarcoidosis and bronchial asthma is uncommon, there may be an etiological relationship between them.