[Value of alveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy in the diagnosis of isolated sarcoid uveitis].

The diagnosis of sarcoidosis is established by biopsy of sarcoid tissues demonstrating non-caseating granuloma, but difficulties arise when extra pulmonary organs are involved separately. Positive histologic signs can however be found in the lung even when there are no radiologic features. Bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsies were performed in 19 patients presenting severe, strictly isolated uveitis (5 cases of anterior uveitis, 3 cases of posterior uveitis and 11 cases of panuveitis). Criteria of positivity were non-caseating granuloma and lymphocytosis. Positive signs were obtained in 6 cases (31,5%); 1 case of posterior uveitis and 5 of panuveitis. There was no case of false positive results but one false negative result. There was a lack of correlation between results of these investigations and angiotensin converting enzyme blood levels. These investigations are non-invasive in experienced hands.