[Monitoring sarcoidosis therapy with immunopathologic parameters]

Recently a detailed concept of the immunopathogenesis of sarcoidosis has been developed. Some components of this concept can be explored by means of simple serological or bronchoalveolar parameters allowing staging of the inflammatory activity of the disease and control of the therapeutical effectiveness. Serum neopterin and the serum level of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor are useful in assessing the activity of macrophages/monocytes and of T-lymphocytes, respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage yields different cytological patterns typical for the acute and chronic forms of the disease permitting the identification of the subpopulation on risk for functional deterioration.