Sarcoidosis in Korea: Revisited

ABSTRACT

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown origin characterized by noncaseating granulomatous inflammation. This disorder has variable clinical course, ranging from benign self - limited recovery to life-long disability. Sarcoidosis is found worldwide; however, the incidence and clinical course of the disease vary among different ethnicity and geographic regions. Especially in Korea, sarcoidosis had been known as a very rare disease until the 1st and the 2nd nationwide surveys performed in 1993 and 1998 by the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. Those surveys revealed gradually increasing incidence of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in Korea (0.027/100,000 in 1993 to 0.125/100,000 in 1998), but still very rare, and the peak age was the 30's with a female predominance (64.6%). The respiratory symptom was the most common (42%) symptom and thoracic lesion including mediastinum was the most frequently (87%) involved organ. On the other hand, cardiac involvement of this disease was very rare (0.7%). In conclusion, sarcoidosis in Korea, is a still uncommon disorder, and clinical manifestations were similar to those of western countries. Additional nationwide survey should be performed and maintained in order to investigate the correct incidence and the course of clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis in near future.