[Current status of clinical and scientific sarcoidosis research 100 years later]

According to today's knowledge the definition of sarcoidosis is formulated as follows: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder induced by inhalation, to be interpreted as a reactionary disease with genetic predisposition. The inducing noxa are still unknown. Sarcoidosis is characterized: a) by its specific course appearing as radiologically visible stages, b) immunologically by a disturbed balance between cellular and humoral defence reaction, c) in view of the pathological anatomy by the epitheloid cell granuloma. The clinical pictures have to be differentiated between two forms of this disease: an acute course and an asymptomatically starting chronic course. The clinical phenomenology shows great variety as to the course and the predominantly injured organs. Concerning the nature of sarcoidosis nevertheless we have a precise idea today. The diagnosis is in most cases without problems. Corticoid therapy is the only effective treatment.