[Familial sarcoidosis. Report of 2 cases in brothers]

For many years a genetic predisposition to sarcoidosis has been considered likely, however no convincing evidence have ever been found. We report histologically proven cases of sarcoidosis in two brothers. Initially, the case of sarcoidosis was diagnosed in a 36-year-old male patient (II stage of radiological lesions) and 4 years later the case of sarcoidosis was diagnosed in 28-year-old younger brother of the first patient (III stage). The brothers did not live together but, in the same neighbourhood. We evaluated the active evolution of a disease by clinical, radiological, including high resolution computed tomography and functional methods as well as by evaluating cellular and soluble components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (angiotensin converting enzyme, protein, phospholipids). The above constitutes the first report on familial sarcoidosis recorded in Poland.