ABSTRACT
The first historical account of neurosarcoidosis can be
ascribed to Winkler who described peripheral neuropathy
with sarcoid lesions in peripheral nerves in 1905 (Winkler,
cited by Salvesen in 1935 and Colover in 1948). Heerfordt
described cranial neuropathy in association with uveo-
parotid fever in 1909. His patients included a man in his
twenties and boys of 11 and 14, who complained of lassitude
and had the three cardinal signs of fever, parotid swelling and
uveitis. Two had optic neuritis with papilledema and facial
palsy; one had paralysis of the vagus and scattered sensory
signs suggestive of mononeuritis multiplex. Dysphagia was
another transient symptom. The man had thirst and polyuria
which gradually lessened and his spinal fluid showed mild
pleocytosis. Heerfordt found that the prognosis was good,
although at follow-up two years later one of the boys had
developed acute retrobulbar neuritis (Urban 1910, cited by
Colover 1948).
