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This abstract is assigned to session BOG-SBO: Medisch netvlies/ Rétine médicale

Title	Optimal pulmonary investigations in patients with uveitis of suspected sarcoidosis origin
Abstract Nr.	259

Purpose	To determine which pulmonary investigations are most usefull to diagnose sarcoidosis in patients with presumed sarcoidosis uveitis.
Methods	We have prospectively evaluated 78 patients with suspected sarcoidosis uveitis. There were 60 females and 18 males; 16 were smokers. All patients had a complete ophthalmological work-up and a broncho-alveolar lavage, (BAL), while a chest X-ray and/or thoracic computer tomography was obtained in 70 subjects.
Results	In this population, 61 (87,1%) had normal pulmonary radiological findings, while stage 1 or 2 was observed in 7 (10,0%) and 2 (2,9%) patients respectively. The cell population of the BAL was normal in 30 (38,5%) subjects. However 48 patients (61,5%) significantly had an increased number of alveolar lymphocytes ( >12%), of which 25 (52,1%) had a CD4/CD8 ratio > 3.5, highly suggestive of sarcoidosis. Interestingly, of those 25 patients with an increased CD4/CD8-ratio, 19 (76,0%) had a normal pulmonary imaging.
Conclusion	in patients with suspected sarcoidosis uveitis with either a normal chest X-ray and/or CT-scan, a BAL can be usefull to diagnose sarcoidosis.

Author 1

Last name	EBRAERT
Initials	H
Department	AZ-VUB
City	Brussel

Author 2

Last name	MICHEL
Initials	O
Department	ULB
City	Bruxelles

Author 3

Last name	WILLERMAIN
Initials	F
Department	ULB
City	Bruxelles

Author 4

Last name	CASPERS
Initials	L
Department	ULB
City	Bruxelles