title: The eye as a common site for the early clinical manifestation of sarcoidosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to detect the rate of initial manifestation of sarcoidosis in the eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective chart review in a sarcoidosis clinic in Germany. Ophthalmological data were obtained by using a standardized protocol, including the medical history, any comorbidity, onset and type of ocular manifestation that was evaluated by slit lamp, tonometry and fundoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the cohort of 1,800 patients (mean age 38.1 ± 11.8 years), diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established most commonly by bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (96.2%), histopathology (46.9%) or other organ manifestations. The initial clinical presentation of sarcoidosis (mean age 34.1 ± 10.8 years) had often been eye manifestation (21.2%). Within this group, anterior uveitis was most common (76.4%), followed by intermediate (17.3%) and posterior uveitis (4.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The eye is commonly the first site for manifestation of sarcoidosis. Ophthalmologists have a critical role in establishing the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bochum, Germany. arnd.heiligenhaus@uveitis-zentrum.de
authors.forename: Arnd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heiligenhaus
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wefelmeyer
authors.forename: Elfa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wefelmeyer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rösel
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schrenk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010309:Parotitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis