Sarcoidosis--epidemiology and topics
Nagai, S.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 60(9): 1697-1703
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 12233063 Document Number: 541625
The incidence, clinical course, and clinical features of the disease sarcoidosis differ somewhat among populations and geographic regions. Pathogenically, sarcoidosis is characterized as antigen-driven macrophage-T cell activation leading to the formation of epithelioid cell granuloma. The etiological agents of sarcoidosis remain unknown. To clarify the etiological agents, as well as common disease features shared by all disease populations in all regions, numerous molecular studies have adopted strategies with T cell antigenic receptor, chemokine production, and ACE gene polymorphism. We expect trials of this type to produce fruitful results in the near future.