CLINICAL CENTER FOR ETIOLOGY OF SARCOIDOSIS--A CASE CONTROL STUDY

病例对照研究旨在调查结节病的可能原因和危险因素。 评估病例和对照以确定结节病的病因将包括调查环境和职业暴露、家族史、病史和血液标本的收集。 血液标本将通过涉及最近开发的微生物学和核酸分析技术的专门研究（如HLA II类标记物研究、分枝杆菌研究、免疫遗传学研究、差异显示聚合酶链反应（PCR）研究）以及血液标本与已知病原体核酸序列的比较，用于确定结节病的潜在免疫遗传学和感染性贡献。还将进行支气管肺泡灌洗研究。 具体的假设包括遗传因素，感染，职业或环境因素影响结节病的风险。 240例病例的临床过程研究旨在：（1）定义在2年随访期内临床上消退或未消退的结节病病例，以及（2）开发临床/放射学/生理学结节病评估系统，用于报告疾病的严重程度。

The case control study is designed to investigate possible cause and risk factors for sarcoidosis. Evaluation of cases and controls to determine the etiology of sarcoidosis will include an inquiry into environmental and occupational exposures, family history, medical history, and collection of blood specimens. Blood specimens will be used to identify potential immunogenetic and infectious contributions to sarcoidosis by means of specialized studies involving recently developed microbiology and nucleic acid analysis techniques such as HLA Class II marker studies, mycobacterial studies, immunogenetic studies, differential display polymerase chain reactin (PCR) studies, and comparisons of nucleic acid sequences from blood specimens to those of known pathogens. Bronchoalveolar lavage studies will also be performed. Specific hypothesis to be addressed include that genetic factors, infections, and occupational or environmental factors affect risk for sarcoidosis. The clinical course study of 240 cases is designed to: (1) define sarcoidosis cases that do or do not clinically resolve over a two-year period of follow-up, and (2) develop a clinical / radiographical / physiologic sarcoidosis assessment system for reporting the severity of disease.