Evaluation of Clinical, Laboratory, and Radiologic Findings of Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Involvement in Sarcoidosis.

Abstract

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease with unknown etiology that is characterized by the presence of granuloma in various organs with diverse pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations. Regarding differences in the presentation of sarcoidosis in different geographical areas, the present study aimed to determine clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings of patients with sarcoidosis in the north of Iran.

Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study, patients with sarcoidosis were enrolled, and demographic data in addition to disease manifestations including clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings were recorded.

Results: A total of 58 patients with sarcoidosis were enrolled in the study. The mean age and disease duration were 51.10±10.2 and 3.07±2.7 years, respectively. 62.1% of patients were female. Clinical manifestations were: cough and dyspnea (55.2%), fever and weight loss (11%), arthritis (15.5%), dermatologic presentation (15.5%), and ophthalmic involvement (17.2 %). Abnormalities in liver, renal, and calcium levels are found in approximately 1-8% of cases. The ACE level was increased in 56.9 % of patients, especially in those who presented in summer and autumn. Chest CT abnormalities were found in 94.8 % of patients, more predominantly hilar and paratracheal lymphadenopathy in 84.5% and 74.1%, respectively.

Conclusion: Although sarcoidosis presents with varying clinical, radiological, and laboratory features, knowledge of its epidemiology and the incidence of these features in different populations can aid in its diagnosis in a particular geographic area.