Patterns of sarcoidosis in three population groups in New York City.

Caucasians in this study group presented in the chronic stage of sarcoidosis more frequently than the Blacks and Puerto-Rican-born. 2) Twenty-eight percent of the Caucasians and 26% of the Blacks who presented in the chronic stage of sarcoidosis, died of pulmonary insufficiency. 3) Puerto-Rican-born women are especially prone to present with erythema nodosum and Stage I radiographic sarcoidosis. 4) Sarcoidosis with extrathoracic organ involvement was more common in Black and Puerto-Rican-born patients than in Caucasians. 5) The size of the Kveim papules was larger in the Black and Puerto-Rican-born patients than among the Caucasians. 6) Two-thirds of all groups were insensitive to tuberculin. 7) The extent and duration of disease at presentation is a major determinant prognosis. 8) Ethnic factors influence the clinical patterns in sarcoidosis, but socioeconomic factors may preclude generalizations based solely upon clinic populations in New York City.