Immunological, clinical and molecular aspects of sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder which often needs a synthesis of clinical features, histology, radiology, biochemical changes and immunological abberations to distinguish it from nonspecific sarcoid-tissue reactions. The main aim of this monographic issue is to offer readers a sort of consensus on both biological and clinical effects by which the sarcoid process is initiated, sustained and clinically presented, with the ultimate goal of relating these effects to management rationale. The first three chapters are devoted to general immunological and molecular aspects of the mechanisms leading to granuloma formation and development of fibrosis. The second three chapters are clinical and provide a descriptive definition of sarcoidosis and its characteristic radiology, physiology, markers of activity course, prognosis and treatment. The clinico-pathological profile is restricted to that which is of background relevance for a better understanding of the basic biology of the sarcoid process. It is intended to provide an academic bridge between the clinical and the basic researcher so that together a solution can be found to the most important remaining enigma, namely the cause(s) of sarcoidosis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.