Induced sputum for identifying sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the value of the induced sputum technique in diagnosing sarcoidosis as the cause of uveitis.


METHODS
Comparative case series.


METHODS
Seventeen patients with uveitis. Two control groups were used. The first included 10 patients with sarcoid without uveitis; the second included 5 healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Sputum was induced by a 20-minute inhalation of 3.5% saline using an ultrasonic nebulizer. Samples were studied by differential counts of 200 cells on cytopreps stained by Giemsa. T lymphocyte subset analyses were done by fluorescence-activated cell sorter using the monoclonal antibodies CD4 (T helper cells) and CD8 (T suppressor-cytotoxic cells). Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) serum levels were obtained.


METHODS
A CD4/CD8 ratio >2.5 and an ACE level >145 microl/ml/minute were considered to be abnormal.


RESULTS
The difference in the CD4/CD8 ratios in the induced sputum examination between the group of patients with an elevated ACE level and the group of patients with an ACE level within normal limits was statistically significant (P = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The induced sputum examination showed increased CD4/CD8 ratios in patients with uveitis who also had elevated ACE levels, suggesting the presence of sarcoidosis.
Neudorfer
Meira
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Leibovitch
Igal
I
Onn
Amir
A
Loewenstein
Anat
A
Fireman
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A