POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION OF SARCOIDOSIS VIA ALLOGENEIC BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was performed in a 34-yea r-old man for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Two years before bone marrow har vest, pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed in the donor. After steroid therapy, disease of the donor was in clinical remission with only mino r radiological signs at the time of BMT. On day 90 after BMT, active s arcoidosis was diagnosed in the recipient. Besides radiologic signs an d increased angiotensin converting enzyme levels, diagnosis was proved by characteristic histologic changes in lung and liver biopsies. Immu nosuppressive therapy was changed from high dose cyclosporine to high dose methylprednisolone and symptoms promptly resolved within 10 weeks . This case indicates the possibility of transmission of sarcoidosis b y marrow transplantation.