Vnitr Lek 2012, 58(10):735-742

Sarcoidosis - diagnostics, prognosis and therapy. A retrospective analysis

M. Doubková^*, I. Binková, J. Skřičková

Klinika nemocí plicních a tuberkulózy Lékařské fakulty MU a FN Brno, pracoviště Bohunice, přednostka prof. MUDr. Jana Skřičková, CSc.

Sarcoidosis is systematic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology which can affect any organ. Sarcoidosis belongs to diseases called interstitial lung diseases. Our study is a retrospective analysis of 169 patients (100 females and 69 males), whom we diagnosed sarcoidosis at our pulmonary department in years 2005-2010. Aim of the analysis was to find out prognostic factors and to describe the course of disease. Median age of sarcoidosis patients was 48 years (20-79). Females : males ratio was 1.5 : 1. Non smoker : smoker (or former smoker) ratio was 2.2 : 1. Familial occurrence was observed in 4 patients (2.4%). At diagnosis, stage 0 was present in 6 (3.5%) patients, stage I in 58 (34%) patients, stage II in 84 (49.5%) patients, stage III in 18 (11%) patients, and stage IV in 3 (2%) patients. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology in 111 patients. In 76 patients there was extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. The coincidence of sarcoidosis with autoimmune diseases was observed in 10 patients; 6 patients developed trombembolic disease. One patient suffered from sarcoidosis with cystic fibrosis. Spontaneous resolution was seen in 65 (38.5%) patients; 37 (64%) stage I patients, 26 (31%) stage II patients, and 2 (11%) stage III patients. One hundred one patients (60%) received corticosteroids. Adverse events of corticosteroid therapy were observed in 28 (26%) patients. In sarcoidosis patients with spontaneous resolution, no relapse of disease was observed. On the other hand, eleven (11%) patients treated with glucocorticosteroids relapsed. Median time to sarcoidosis relapse was 6 months (2-34). The age under 40 years, the X-ray stage I or II, the high CD4/CD8 ratio in bronchoalveolar fluid, pulmonary involvement, and therapy need for a period shorter than 2 years were assessed as a significant good prognostic factors. Observed lethality of our patient cohort was 1.2% (2 patients; both deaths related to sarcoidosis).

Keywords: sarcoidosis; diagnosis; therapy; prognosis

Received: April 12, 2012; Accepted: August 7, 2012; Published: October 1, 2012  Show citation