Sarcoid

Abstract

Patients with sarcoidosis were separated into those treated or not treated with prednisone. Skin test reactivity of both groups was clearly diminished but a significant decrease in T cells was seen only in the steroid treated group and this was not sufficient to explain the profound anergy. Lymphocyte stimulation studies generally revealed elevated baseline incorporation of [3H]thymidine and reduced stimulation. Factors were present in the plasmas of 1/4 to 1/3 of the patients which suppressed normal lymphocyte stimulation. When cells from 3 sarcoid patients were precultured in vitro, recovery towards normal occurred with a drop of the elevated baseline and rise in peak response.