Abstract

Course and prognosis of sarcoidosis varies among different populations. In this study we investigated the course of sarcoidosis cases (Female: 53, Male: 17, mean age 43.57±11.97 ) followed up in our center. The most frequently observed complaints were cough (46%), dyspnea (33%), weakness (30%). Skin involvement was present in 30% (erythema nodosum 11% ), crackles/ronchi in 11%, hepatomegaly in 7%, splenomegaly in 6%, Lofgren syndrome in 6%, opthalmological involvement in 7%, cardiac involvement in 3% on physical examination and hypercalcemia was found in 7% of the cases. Tuberculin skin test was positive in 33% of the cases and angiotensin converting enzyme was high in 61% of the cases.The diagnosis was obtained by transbronchial biopsy in 40%, mediastinal lymph node (LN) biopsy in 18%, skin biopsy in 10%, peripheral LN biopsy in 6%. The diagnosis was achieved by clinical and radiological finding in 26% of the cases. Cavitary sarcoidosis were found in 2 cases, sarcoidosis due to interferon usage in 1 case, alveolar sarcoidosis in 1 case. 68/70 patients were followed, 27/68 patients received treatment, spontaneous remission rate in stage I, II, III disease was 78, 67, 50% respectively. Remission with treatment was 100, 90 and 46% for stage I, II, III disease respectively. In our study population stage I and II sarcoidosis were common whereas atypical forms like cavitary sarcoidosis and alveolar sarcoidosis and sarcoidosis due to interferon usage were rare. In conclusion, the incidence and prognosis of sarcoidosis is not well known in our country and it should be considered in differential diagnosis of respiratory disease.