title: [Chronic sarcoidosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to available literature data, chronic pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis occurs in 10-30% of all sarcoidosis patients. Unpredictable course of the disease is a great challenge for scientists and researchers. Clinical and biological parameters for evaluation and prediction of the course of the disease are still the topic of different scientific investigations all over the world. According to an American case control study on sarcoidosis, unique diagnostic criteria have been established in order to simplify the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The aim of this study was to present the morbidity and the clinical course of sarcoidosis in our patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 370 sarcoidosis patients and confirmed the diagnosis of sarcoidosis by biopsy of the suspected granuloma, and by excluding any other possible cause of granulomatous inflammation. In our analyzed patients with sarcoidosis, chronic form was diagnosed in about 30%. An extremly unpredictable, chronic form of the disease was established in patients with extrapulmonary localisations (heart, CNS, liver and bones).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Follow-up criteria and control examinations of sarcoidosis patients are suggested as well.
authors.affiliation: Klinicki centar, Beograd, Institut za plućne bolesti i tuberkulozu.
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mihailović-Vucinić
authors.forename: Jelica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Videnović-Ivanov
authors.forename: Drasko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gostiljac
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filipović
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marić
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis