[Familial sarcoidosis: three case reports].
BACKGROUND
Familial sarcoidosis is rare. We reviewed 147 cases of sarcoidosis, whatever their localization, diagnosed at Rabat-Salé University Hospital, during a period of 10 years (1983-1993). Among these cases, we report those of three patients with sarcoidosis, in a same family. The observations concern three generations.


METHODS
Observation 1: the grandmother presented with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Observation 2: the mother presented with sarcoidosis of the skin, joint and lung. Observation 3: the daughter had cutaneous and pulmonary localizations.


CONCLUSIONS
The real frequency of familial sarcoidosis is probably underestimated because of the big number of latent forms. A review of the literature allowed us to find 43 families with sarcoidosis. There is no clinical difference between familial sarcoidosis and usual forms of the disease, as confirmed by our findings. The preponderance of patients of the same sex in the same family, like our mother-daughter filiation is, described by the majority of the authors. This leads to suppose the existence of genetic factors. Neither this theory nor the one suggesting the possibility for etiologic agent that could perhaps affect the same persons in the same family can be currently demonstrated. Any association with an HLA group in the familial cases of sarcoidosis is unlikely.


CONCLUSIONS
The rarity of familial sarcoidosis forms makes very difficult to establish theories regarding the familial predisposition.
el Hassani
S
S
Service de rhumatologie B, hôpital El Ayachi, CHU, Rabat-Salé, Maroc.
el Maghraoui
A
A
Bensabbah
R
R
Hajjaj-Hassouni
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D013256:Steroids
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013256:Steroids
La sarcoïdose familiale: à propos de trois cas.