Sarcoidosis in Washington, DC

Abstract

In Washington, DC, 105 black patients. who had biopsy specimens which confirmed sarcoidosis, were studied clinically. Of these, 16% were asymptomatic while the remainder had a variety of respiratory, constitutional, and other manifestations in agreement with the classical concept of the disease. Twenty-nine patients were in the roentgenographic category of hilar lymphadenopathy bilaterally with or without parenchymal lung infiltration. Seventy-eight patients were anergic to skin-test antigens. Of 33 patients who were Kveim tested, only seven had abnormal biopsy specimens. Patient selection for treatment was based on disease severity. Of the original 105 patients, 64 were observed for five years. The majority improved, but five died. Prognosis was related to both roentgenographic categorization of disease as well as to clinical manifestations.