Monoclonal antibodies to epithelioid cells in lip biopsy in sarcoidosis.

The phenotype of infiltrating and residual cells in biopsies of minor salivary glands from patients with sarcoidosis and from normal controls, were studied using a sensitive two-step indirect immunoperoxidase technique. We found that infiltrating lymphocytes were practically absent from salivary gland biopsies in the control group, but that in the Sarcoid group the numerous infiltrating lymphocytes consisted mainly of T-lymphocytes, mostly T-helper cells (CD4+ cells). These data correlate positively with other studies on lymphocytic infiltration in other organs involved in the immunopathology of sarcoidosis, e.g. the lung. In our study the glandular epithelial cells in the salivary gland biopsies were HLA-DR positive in the patients with sarcoidosis, especially in those specimens from patients with active disease in which 50-80% of the epithelial cells expressed an HLA-DR antigen. We observed a positive relationship between HLA-DR positive epithelial cells, the expression of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) and the density of lymphocytic infiltrates. This is in accordance with other chronic, lymphocytic infiltratory diseases with HLA-DR positive epithelial expression, such as Sjögren's syndrome involving salivary glands. This suggests that there might be a common denominator causing disease in these cases.

Biochemical and immunological parameters of sarcoid patients in west Greece.

Sera from 55 patients with inactive and active sarcoidosis were analyzed for biochemical and immunological serum factors (immunoglobulins, complement and autoantibodies). These parameters of sarcoid Greek patients are presented for the first time in the literature. They are compared with similar findings in the European and World literature. Summarily the IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) and C4 levels were increased in both sarcoidosis groups. These data suggest that the underlying etiological events of sarcoidosis do exist at a subclinical level.

Present status of sarcoidosis in west Greece.

Sarcoidosis is being increasingly recognised in Greece. The clinical spectrum and the epidemiological data of 62 sarcoid patients of the West department of Greece are analysed for the first time. These patients have been studied over the last 10 years. Young females outnumbered males. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed in all the patients. Intrathoracic involvement was present in 98% of the patients (stage I 70%, stage II 20%, stage III 10% respectively). Skin lesions were present in 65%, lymphadenopathy 26%, uveitis 21%, joints 15%, and nervous system involvement 5%. Kveim test was positive in 60% of the patients, while 60% were tuberculin negative. Steroids were used in 50%. In the initial symptoms of the diagnostic period resolution occurred in 60% of them. For the period of follow-up the mortality was 3%.

Biopsy-documented tuberculous pleural effusion in a patient with biopsy-proven coexisting sarcoidosis.

One year after treatment with corticosteroids for sarcoidosis, a patient presented with biopsy-documented tuberculous pleural effusion while characteristic histopathological findings of sarcoidosis coexisted in many tissues of peripheral organs. Tuberculous pleurisy developed in the presence of disseminated persistent sarcoidosis. Although the interaction of the pathophysiological mechanisms between these two entities is not clear, it is possible that the existence of one does not allow the clinical expression of the other.