Focus on Sarcoidosis
The association of baseline sarcoidosis measurements with 6-month outcomes that are of interest to patients: Results from the On-line Sarcoidosis Assessment Platform Study (OSAP)
Cutoffs for most of the phenotypic measures used to assess sarcoidosis distinguished groups of sarcoidosis patients with differing OIPs over the subsequent 6 months. The patients’ global assessment of their disease was the most accurate of these measures.Patterns of medication use and imaging following initial diagnosis of sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammatory disease with unclear natural history. Using a large, retrospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort, we sought to define its natural history in order to guide future clinical studies.Risk of acute myocardial infarction in sarcoidosis: A population-based cohort study from Sweden
Due to conflicting findings in previous studies, it remains unclear whether individuals with sarcoidosis are at a higher relative risk of acute myocardial infarction. In this cohort study, individuals with sarcoidosis and matched general population comparators were followed for acute myocardial infarction in Swedish nationwide registers. A small (20%) risk increase associated with sarcoidosis was identified, which did not markedly vary by age at diagnosis, sex, treatment status around diagnosis, and time since diagnosis.Abnormal FeV1 and body mass index are associated with impaired cough-related quality of life in sarcoidosis patients
Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease that mainly manifests within the lungs and may thereby impair lung function. Beyond and independently from organ impairment, sarcoidosis may affect quality of life which can be quantified by questionnaires. The Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) has been developed to assess cough-related quality of life. We analysed data from a prospectively collected cohort of sarcoidosis patients for validation of the German LCQ version. Our analyses demonstrated that LCQ values add additional information beyond routinely monitored parameters (e.g.Ophthalmologic assessments in patients with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis: An observational study from a universal healthcare system
Consensus guidelines for the management of sarcoidosis recommend screening eye examinations for all patients, even in those without ocular symptoms. We aimed to determine the proportion of sarcoidosis patients that complete ophthalmologic evaluations and factors associated with their performance.The impact of demographic disparities in the presentation of sarcoidosis: A multicenter prospective study
To study how demographic differences impact disease manifestation of sarcoidosis using the WASOG tool in a large multicentric study.Sarcoidosis: A nationwide registry-based study of incidence, prevalence and diagnostic work-up
The primary objective was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of sarcoidosis, and secondly, to evaluate differences in incidence by age at diagnosis, gender, region, calendar year and treatment and to evaluate sarcoidosis-related diagnostic work-up.HLA-DRB1 alleles associate with hypercalcemia in sarcoidosis
The mechanisms behind and which patients are at risk of developing sarcoidosis associated hypercalcemia (SAHC) have not been addressed. Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles associate with disease phenotypes in sarcoidosis. Insights into associations between HLA alleles, clinical phenotype and calcium levels may provide clues to mechanisms behind SAHC and help monitoring patients at risk for SAHC.Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis: A multicenter retrospective research network study
Crude COVID-19 mortality and other clinical outcome measures are poor in pulmonary sarcoidosis cohort; however, propensity-matched analyses revealed no difference in outcomes, showing that higher mortality is driven by higher burden of comorbidities.Genomic biomarkers in chronic beryllium disease and sarcoidosis
Background Previous gene expression studies have identified genes IFNγ, TNFα, RNase 3, CXCL9, and CD55 as potential biomarkers for sarcoidosis and/or chronic beryllium disease (CBD). We hypothesized that differential expression of these genes could function as diagnostic biomarkers for sarcoidosis and CBD, and prognostic biomarkers for sarcoidosis. Study Design/Methods We performed RT-qPCR on whole blood samples from CBD (n = 132), beryllium sensitized (BeS) (n = 109), and sarcoidosis (n = 99) cases and non-diseased controls (n = 97) to determine differential expression of target genes.Antifibrotic drugs for pulmonary sarcoidosis: A treatment in search of an indication
The most common causes of disability and death from sarcoidosis are directly or indirectly related to complications of fibrotic lung disease [1]. Fibrosis develops in up to 20% of pulmonary sarcoidosis patients [2,3] and may result in end-stage parenchymal lung disease [4]. Fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis is associated with distortion of airways leading to airflow obstruction, bronchiectasis, and increased episodes of clinical worsening that are often related to pulmonary infections [4–7]. Sarcoidosis associated pulmonary hypertension is caused by a variety of mechanisms, but the most common of these is distortion of the pulmonary vasculature from fibrosis [8,9].High expression of mTOR signaling in granulomatous lesions is not predictive for the clinical course of sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease with a variable clinical presentation and disease course. There is still no reliable biomarker available, which assists in the diagnosis or prediction of the clinical course. According to a murine model, the expression level of the metabolic checkpoint kinase mechanistic target of Rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in granulomas of sarcoidosis patients may be used as a clinical biomarker.Current perspectives on the immunopathogenesis of sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory systemic disease that commonly affects the lungs or lymph nodes but can manifest in other organs. Herein, we review the latest evidence establishing how innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to the pathogenesis and clinical course of sarcoidosis. We discuss the possible role of microbial organisms as etiologic agents in sarcoidosis and the evidence supporting sarcoidosis as an autoimmune disease. We also discuss how animal and in vitro human models have advanced our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of sarcoidosis.sIL-2R levels predict the spontaneous remission in sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is associated with a wide range of disease outcomes including spontaneous remission and progressive courses. It is necessary to identify patients with spontaneous remission without corticosteroid treatment. This study aimed to identify the markers for predicting spontaneous remission in patients with sarcoidosis.The utility of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration in patients with suspected extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis without thoracic lymphadenopathy
Diagnosis of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis can be difficult, and a biopsy is usually required. We evaluated the utility of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in patients with suspected extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis with thoracic lymph nodes ≤10 mm on chest computed tomography (CT) and no or minimal pulmonary infiltrates.Predictors of mortality in fibrosing pulmonary sarcoidosis
Pulmonary fibrosing sarcoidosis is associated with increased mortality. This study was aimed to explore the prognosis value of a panel of parameters for predicting mortality.Randomised, placebo-controlled trial of dexamethasone for quality of life in pulmonary sarcoidosis
Many patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis experience reduced quality of life. Although oral corticosteroids are the most common agents used in sarcoidosis, very little is known on the effects on quality of life.Breaking hearts and taking names: A case of sarcoidosis related effusive-constrictive pericarditis
Pericardial involvement of sarcoidosis is a rare cause for acute heart failure, and usually occurs as a result of the development of a pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade. Even rarer still, is the manifestation of constrictive pericarditis. We report a case of sarcoidosis with lung, pleural, and pericardial involvement with effusive-constrictive pericarditis leading to cardiac tamponade.Evaluating S100B as a serum biomarker for central neurosarcoidosis
S100B is a calcium-binding protein found primarily in glial cells. In the setting of neuronal injury and disruption of the blood brain barrier, S100B can leak into the cerebrospinal fluid and systemic circulation.Sarcoidosis diagnosis and treatment in Sweden: A register-based assessment of variations by region and calendar period
In Sweden, sarcoidosis prevalence varies geographically, but it is unclear whether diagnosis and treatment patterns vary by geographical area and calendar period. We sought to investigate differences in sarcoidosis diagnosis and treatment by healthcare region and calendar period using nationwide register data.CXCL9 and CXCL10 are differentially associated with systemic organ involvement and pulmonary disease severity in sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammatory disease with limited blood markers to predict outcomes. The interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible chemotactic cytokines (chemokines), CXCL9 and CXCL10, are both increased in sarcoidosis patients, yet they possess important molecular differences. Our study determined if serum chemokines correlated with different aspects of disease severity.Mortality for sarcoidosis patients on the transplant wait list in the Lung Allocation Score era: Experience from a high volume center
Sarcoidosis progresses to end stage fibrotic lung disease in 10% of patients and may necessitate lung transplantation. Organ allocation is currently determined by the Lung Allocation Score (LAS), but its performance in a sarcoidosis population has not been evaluated.Correspondence for "clinical epidemiology of familial sarcoidosis: A systematic literature review"
We have read the very interesting article titled “Clinical epidemiology of familial sarcoidosis: a systematic literature review” by Drs. Terwiel and van Moorsel published recently in Respiratory medicine [1]. The work was based on the very stringent selection of 27 articles out of a total of 459 published on sarcoidosis in order to obtain a high level of statistical quality in the evaluation of the prevalence of familial forms. This review took into account all articles published until March 2018, date of submission to Respiratory Medicine.Correspondence for “Clinical epidemiology of familial sarcoidosis: A systematic literature review”
It is with great interest that we read the article titled “Clinical epidemiology of familial sarcoidosis: A systematic literature review” by Drs. Terwiel and van Moorsel published recently in Respiratory Medicine [1]. Their systematic review on familial sarcoidosis highlights the great heterogeneity in familial disease prevalence and in familial relative risks among published studies. They also emphasize the high heritability (>60%) of sarcoidosis.Economic burden of incident interstitial lung disease (ILD) and the impact of comorbidity on costs of care
Evidence about the economic burden related to interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and the cost-driving factors is sparse. In the knowledge that distinct comorbidities affect the clinical course of ILDs, our study investigates their impact on costs of care within first year after diagnosis.
