[Sarcoidosis in internal medicine. A cooperative study of 554 cases]

The authors report the results of a retrospective cooperative study of 554 cases of sarcoidosis admitted to departments of internal medicine. The condition is more common in women (57 p. 100) than men (43 p. 100), but the onset is earlier in men. The clinical presentation is very variable and includes a wide variety of extra-thoracic localisations. "Guided" biopsy of early accessible lesions (skin, subcutaneous lymph nodes) is positive in 92 p. 100 of cases: the sensitivity of "blind" biopsy is less impressive, ranging from 49 to 69 p. 100 according to the tissue biopsied (bronchial mucosa, accessory salivary glands, liver). Alveolar lavage is positive in 65 p. 100, and angiotensin converting enzyme is positive in 58 p. 100 of untreated cases. There is a clear correlation between the results of these investigations and the radiological stage of the mediastino -pulmonary disease. Steroid therapy was instituted in 68 p. 100 of cases. The outcome with or without therapy was favourable in 82 p. 100 of cases, confirming the usually benign course of sarcoidosis when the heart is not involved.