Lymphokines (MIF) in the serum of patients with sarcoidosis and cutaneous granuloma annulare

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Abstract
Serum MIF [migration inhibitory factor] activity was studied in 10 patients with sarcoidosis, 14 with granuloma annulare, 4 with necrobiosis lipoidica and 9 with various dermatological diseases. Positive MIF activity was found in the sera of 9 of the 10 patients with sarcoidosis and 11 of the 14 patients with granuloma annulare. Delayed hypersensitivity tests were negative in all 9 of the patients with sarcoidosis who had serum MIF activity, and were positive in only 3 patients with cutaneous sarcoid lesions. One of 4 patients with necrobiosis lipoidica demonstrated minimal serum MIF activity. Data on serum lymphokine activity in sarcoidosis and granuloma annulare suggest that these 2 diseases are related to delayed hypersensitivity mechanisms.