title: Contribution of T cell subset analysis in induced sputum in diagnosing ocular sarcoidosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between the diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis and the presence of an elevated CD4/CD8 ratio in the induced sputum(IS) of patients with uveitis and no other systemic symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective chart review study included all newly diagnosed uveitis patients treated between 1998-2006. IS examinations and determination of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels were carried out. A CD4/CD8 ratio > 2.5 and an ACE level > 145 Cd/ml/min were considered abnormal. The etiology of uveitis was retrieved from the medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty males and 26 females (mean age 47 +/- 16.1 years) were enrolled. The CD4/CD8 ratio was elevated in 26 (56.5%) patients, and five (10.9%) were diagnosed as having sarcoidosis by the end of follow-up. The sensitivity and specificity of the T lymphocytes CD4/CD8 ratio in diagnosing sarcoidosis were 100% and 48.8%, respectively. CD4/CD8 ratios were not significantly different between the sarcoid and non-sarcoid groups (p > 0.05), but the former tended to have higher levels (p = 0.0991). The mean ACE level of the sarcoid patients was significantly higher than that of the non-sarcoid patients (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD4/CD8 lymphocytes ratios obtained by IS were sensitive in uveitis patients with concomitant sarcoidosis, suggesting that analysis of T cells subsets in IS may rule out an etiology of sarcoidosis in newly diagnosed uveitis patients.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. amitmeshi@gmail.com
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Meshi
authors: Meira
authors: M
authors: Neudorfer
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Fireman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000032:analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A