Racial and ethnic disparities in sarcoidosis: from genetics to socioeconomics

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause that occurs worldwide. The clinical expression of sarcoidosis varies by race. These racial differences may be the result of genetic and socioeconomic factors. Many of these genetic associations are race-specific in that they are found in either African Americans or whites but not both. Socioeconomic differences may also explain the racial disparities between African American and white patients with sarcoidosis. Finally, the phenotypic differences be-tween races may relate to an interaction between genetics and socioeconomic factors. The influences of genetics and socioeconomic status on the development and phenotypic expression of sarcoidosis will be better understood as the mechanisms of disease development are uncovered.