Age-related differences in chest radiographic staging of sarcoidosis in Japan

The influence of age and sex in sarcoidosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to describe how the clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis may be shaped by the effects of sex hormones and by age dependent changes in immune functions and physiology This review is intended to highlight the need to consider the effects of sex and sex in future studies of sarcoidosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

The clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis differ based on sex and gender There is emerging evidence that female and male hormones and X-linked genes are important determinants of immune responses to environmental antigens, which has important implications for granuloma formation in the context of sarcoidosis Furthermore, sex hormone levels predictably change throughout adolescence and adulthood, and this occurs in parallel with the onset immune senescence and changes in physiology with advanced age.

SUMMARY

Recent studies indicate that sex and age are important variables shaping the immune response of humans to environmental antigens We posit herein that sex and age are important determinants of sarcoidosis clinical phenotypes Many gaps in our understanding of the roles played by sex and gender in sarcoidosis, and these need to be considered in future studies.

Computed Tomography Images of Fibrotic Pulmonary Sarcoidosis Leading to Chronic Respiratory Failure

BACKGROUND

There is currently no consensus on the morphology of severe fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis, and we examined computed tomography (CT) findings and progression.

METHODS

We analyzed findings in 10 consecutive patients (three men, seven women) with pulmonary sarcoidosis requiring oxygen therapy for chronic respiratory failure, who were extracted from >2500 sarcoidosis patients (three hospitals, 2000-2018). Patients with comorbidities causing chronic respiratory failure were excluded.

RESULTS

Predominant findings were consolidations along the bronchovascular bundles comprising 'central-peripheral band', traction bronchiectasis, peripheral cysts/bullae, and upper lobe shrinkage. Traction bronchiectasis arose from opacities comprising 'central-peripheral band'. Clustering of traction bronchiectasis at the distal side formed honeycomb lung-like structures in three patients. Upper lobe shrinkage progressed in seven patients together with progression of consolidations, 'central-peripheral band', traction bronchiectasis clusters, and cysts, while patients without shrinkage included two patients with severe multiple cysts without traction bronchiectasis. Restrictive ventilatory impairment developed in most patients. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was detected radiologically in five patients, and chronic progressive pulmonary aspergillosis (CPPA) in four patients.

CONCLUSIONS

During progression, consolidations comprising 'central-peripheral band' progressed together with traction bronchiectasis clusters and peripheral cysts, resulting in upper lobe shrinkage. This may lead to respiratory failure with possible complications such as PH and CPPA.

Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease, with lung involvement in almost all cases. Abnormal chest radiography is usually a key step for considering diagnosis. Lung impact is investigated through imaging; pulmonary function; and, when required, 6-minute walk test, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, or right heart catheterization. There is usually a reduction of lung volumes, and forced vital capacity is the most accurate parameter to reflect the impact of pulmonary sarcoidosis with or without pulmonary infiltration at imaging. Various evolution patterns have been described. Increased risk of death is associated with advanced pulmonary fibrosis or cor pulmonale, particularly in African American patients.

Age-related and historical changes in the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis in Japan

BACKGROUND

National surveys conducted in Japan between 1960 and 2004 suggest a gradually increasing incidence of sarcoidosis in women >50 years old with increased involvement of the eye, skin, and heart. However, whether this involvement is due to the increased age at diagnosis is still unclear. We aimed here to identify the age-related differences in organ involvement in sarcoidosis in Japan, as well as the historical changes in clinical characteristics and the age-specific distribution of cases at diagnosis.

METHODS

We reviewed 588 consecutive Japanese patients newly diagnosed with sarcoidosis between 1974 and 2012 at Jichi Medical University Hospital. We compared organ involvement between subgroups differentiated by sex and age (<45 years; n = 275; ≥45 years; n = 313) at diagnosis and identified historical changes in the age-specific distribution in 10-year intervals.

RESULTS

Younger patients had more common involvement of extrathoracic lymph nodes, parotid/salivary gland, and liver, while older patients had more common involvement of non-lymphatic extrathoracic organs such as the eye, heart, muscle, and kidney. The age at diagnosis has consistently increased over the past four decades. The monophasic distribution in men has tended to become biphasic, and the biphasic distribution in women monophasic. Increasing trends were apparent for hypercalcemia and involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, skin, nervous system, muscle, and kidney.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients at diagnosis had various extrathoracic involvement including eye, skin, and cardiac lesions. Moreover, the age at diagnosis of sarcoidosis has continued to increase in both sexes, influencing the recent trends in clinical characteristics.