SARCOIDOSIS - THE WAY AHEAD

The cause(s) of sarcoidosis is likely to be a combination of a conduci ve soil or sarcoid diathesis invaded by an antigen-driven cell-mediate d immune response. The antigenic invasion may be mycobacteria and othe r organisms and/or their chemical constituents. A ten-point plan of ma nagement is set out so that early diagnosis allows early treatment and to prevent complicating pulmonary, ocular or renal fibrosis and to pr event failure of these vital organs. The cause(s) of sarcoidosis conti nue to elude us to let us piece together possible cofactors which may provide an etiologic framework. The most likely combination is that of a conducive soil or sarcoid diathesis invaded by an antigen-driven ce ll-mediated immune response.