Sarcoidosis and opportunistic infections

Two patients receiving steroid therapy for sarcoidosis had a potentially fa tal opportunistic infection that: was difficult to differentiate from the u nderlying illness, but was successfully treated after the diagnosis was mad e. The effects of sarcoidosis on the immune system and the additional effec ts of steroid therapy on cell-mediated immunity seem to be of real clinical significance, rather than being of theoretical interest alone, because of the risk of infection with intracellular infecting organisms, even if such infections occur relatively infrequently.