Outcome of pulmonary sarcoidosis: a population-based study 1976-2013

Severe Thrombocytopenia in a 30-Year-Old African American Male With Newly Diagnosed Sarcoidosis: A Case Report

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas. Hematological manifestations such as thrombocytopenia are unusual presentations of the disease. Various theories have been proposed for the development of thrombocytopenia in patients with sarcoidosis such as decreased production in bone marrow caused by granuloma formation, hypersplenism, and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We present a case of a 30-year-old African American male with ITP secondary to sarcoidosis who presented with a sudden onset of buccal mucosa and mucocutaneous bleeding and was found to have severe thrombocytopenia with values reaching as low as 1000/uL without prior history of easy bruising or bleeding. Overall, our patient had dyspnea, mucocutaneous bleeding, and was found to have mediastinal and hilar adenopathy, isolated thrombocytopenia, no splenomegaly, and non-necrotizing granulomas in the lymph nodes. The patient received platelet transfusions without initial response and received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), romiplostim, and steroids with subsequent improvement in the platelet count after sufficient administration of a treatment regimen of approximately one week. Confounding factors that resulted in diagnostic uncertainty of our patient presentation included travel history with prophylactic antimalarial medications, doxycycline usage, only slightly elevated Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) levels, and imaging features concerning metastatic disease vs. lymphoma. The clinical diversity of sarcoidosis often leads to diagnostic uncertainty and treatment delays due to its resemblance to other more common disorders. This is a novel case report of the earliest temporal presentation of severe thrombocytopenia and sarcoidosis in an African American male reported in the literature.

Clinical phenotyping in sarcoidosis using cluster analysis

Background

Most phenotyping paradigms in sarcoidosis are based on expert opinion; however, no paradigm has been widely adopted because of the subjectivity in classification. We hypothesized that cluster analysis could be performed on common clinical variables to define more objective sarcoidosis phenotypes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 554 sarcoidosis cases to identify distinct phenotypes of sarcoidosis based on 29 clinical features. Model-based clustering was performed using the VarSelLCM R package and the Integrated Completed Likelihood (ICL) criteria were used to estimate number of clusters. To identify features associated with cluster membership, features were ranked based on variable importance scores from the VarSelLCM model, and additional univariate tests (Fisher’s exact test and one-way ANOVA) were performed using q-values correcting for multiple testing. The Wasfi severity score was also compared between clusters.

Results

Cluster analysis resulted in 6 sarcoidosis phenotypes. Salient characteristics for each cluster are as follows: Phenotype (1) supranormal lung function and majority Scadding stage 2/3; phenotype (2) supranormal lung function and majority Scadding stage 0/1; phenotype (3) normal lung function and split Scadding stages between 0/1 and 2/3; phenotype (4) obstructive lung function and majority Scadding stage 2/3; phenotype (5) restrictive lung function and majority Scadding stage 2/3; phenotype (6) mixed obstructive and restrictive lung function and mostly Scadding stage 4. Although there were differences in the percentages, all Scadding stages were encompassed by all of the phenotypes, except for phenotype 1, in which none were Scadding stage 4. Clusters 4, 5, 6 were significantly more likely to have ever been on immunosuppressive treatment and had higher Wasfi disease severity scores.

Conclusions

Cluster analysis produced 6 sarcoidosis phenotypes that demonstrated less severe and severe phenotypes. Phenotypes 1, 2, 3 have less lung function abnormalities, a lower percentage on immunosuppressive treatment and lower Wasfi severity scores. Phenotypes 4, 5, 6 were characterized by lung function abnormalities, more parenchymal abnormalities, an increased percentage on immunosuppressive treatment and higher Wasfi severity scores. These data support using cluster analysis as an objective and clinically useful way to phenotype sarcoidosis subjects and to empower clinicians to identify those with more severe disease versus those who have less severe disease, independent of Scadding stage.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-022-01993-z.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of Korean patients with sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown cause involving multiple organs. Its clinical presentation and prognosis vary among races. We identified the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Korean patients with sarcoidosis. Clinical data of 367 Korean patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis diagnosed in 2001–2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment responses included improvement, stability, or progression based on changes in pulmonary sarcoidosis on chest images. The mean age was 47.4 years, and 67.3% of patients were women. The median follow-up period was 80 months. The highest prevalence was observed in individuals aged 50–59 years (30–39 years in men, 50–59 years in women), and the number of diagnoses showed an increasing trend. Lung involvement was the most common (93.5%), followed by the skin, eyes, and extrathoracic lymph nodes. Among patients with lung involvement and a follow-up period of ≥ 3 months, 66.8%, 31.0%, and 2.2% showed improvement, stability, and progression, respectively. Eleven patients (2.9%) died, and the 5-year survival rate was 99%. The number of diagnosed cases showed an increasing trend, and the mean age at diagnosis was increased compared with that in previous reports. Organ involvement was similar to that of Westerners, although the prognosis appeared better.