Seasonal Clustering of Sarcoidosis in Spring in Turkey

Some studies have observed a seasonal clustering of sarcoidosis ca­ses in winter and early spring. In the preseent study, a relation was detected between the season of presentation and clinical, labora­tory and radiological findings, in sarcoidosis. Seventy nine patients were classified according to the season of pre­sentation. Spirometry, laboratory, clinical, radiological findings and the required therapy were recorded. The mean age was 45.2± 15.5 years (15-78). Frequently seen seasons of presentation were spring (37%) and summer (29%), while rarely seen one was autumn (9%) (p:0.004). Frequently seen month of presentation was June (17.7%) (p:0.01). Three months; April, May and June, showed a peak of presentation (46%) in all year. Frequently seen season of presentation in sarcoidosis was spring, where the least frequent one was autumn and frequently seen months of presentation were June, April and May in Izmir, Turkey. Symptoms, extrapulmonary involvement, symptom period, radiolo­gical stages, requirement of corticosteroide treatment, pulmonary function tests, serum ACE level, lymphocyte level in BAL, tuber- culine skin test, serum and urine Ca level were not related to the season of sarcoidosis presentation. Sixty percent of the patients with sarcoidosis were tuberculine positive.