[Clinical statistics of sarcoidosis in Japan]

In addition to 8th national survey on sarcoidosis in 1991, several other Japanese surveys on clinical features of sarcoidosis was performed and summarized by Tachibana and others. Selected data from these surveys are described in this paper Elderly female patients and detection by symptoms were predominant in 8th national survey, in contrary to the previous data of predominance of younger patients and detection by mass examination. 80 familial occurrence of sarcoidosis was collected in Japan. Brother-sister set was predominant, including two identical twins. Whereas age at detection of cardiac and various other extrathoracic lesions listed in 3 tables was mainly older than 40 years old, it was younger in the CNS involvement especially diabetes insipidus. As various extrathoracic lesions appeared even in stage 1 and also newly appeared during clinical course, careful follow up of the disease is necessary. Major complications of sarcoidosis were malignancy, tuberculosis, mycosis, herpes zoster and other infections and collagen diseases. Pulmonary mycosis was major complication of stage 3 sarcoidosis. Sarcoid reaction was found both in regional lymph nodes and primary malignant tumors, including lung and gastric cancer and others. Worsening of sarcoidosis after labor was found in relatively high frequency in stage 2 and 3, but also in stage 1.