ABSTRACT
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of granulomatous inflammation that primarily affects
the lung and lymph system, although all organs can be involved. Two principal presentations
of the disorder can be defined; an acute form, often with short duration and complete
restitution, and a more insidious course with multiorgan involvement and a higher
risk of progressive organ damage. Sarcoidosis affects mainly young adults.
The etiology of sarcoidosis is unknown, and current concepts assume one or more environmental
triggers that start in a host with an inherited susceptibility to a dysbalanced immune
response. Candidate susceptibility genes include genes with a function in antigen
recognition, T cell activation, T-helper 1/2 (TH1/TH2) cell balance, and granuloma
formation.
A few genetic linkage analyses and numerous association studies with a focus on the
region of the major histocompatibility complex genes have been performed, which have
so far yielded no breakthrough. They have, rather, verified the assumption of a complex
and possibly heterogeneous character of the genetics of sarcoidosis.
KEYWORDS
Sarcoidosis - disease susceptibility - immunogenetics - major histocompatibility complex