[Chronic articular manifestations of sarcoidosis. Apropos of 7 cases]

Chronic articular involvement is rare in sarcoidosis (approximately 0,2 p. 100). The authors report seven cases and describe the special features of chronic sarcoid polyarthritis: incidence of synovitis, possibility of destructive forms resembling rheumatoid arthritis, sensibility to steroids, relatively good functional prognosis. The diagnosis is essentially histological; it should be suspected in any chronic polyarthritis of obscure origin and confirmed by synovial biopsy. The physiopathology of sarcoid synovitis has not yet been determined.