Analysis of 275 patients with sarcoidosis over a 38 year period; a single-institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease with unknown etiology.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated seasonal variation, demographic, clinical and diagnostic features of sarcoidosis in recently diagnosed symptomatic patients in the whole cohort (275 patients) and in the subgroups according to the estimated disease course (subacute course group vs. chronic course group). We also developed a prediction model to predict the course of sarcoidosis using simple clinical and demographic variables.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-five patients with sarcoidosis. MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICS: Roger's test, chi-square, t-test and multiple logistic regression were used.

RESULTS: The distribution of cumulative monthly diagnosis was the lowest in November (fall) (p<0.01). Seasonal pattern was influenced by age and gender. Constitutional symptoms, stages 2 and 3 diseases and the absence of erythema nodosum were highly significant parameters for chronic course. Using these variables, the developed model had a specificity of 93.1% and its positive predictive value was 89.5%. Progression of the disease was documented 6.4% in subacute group vs. 32.1% in chronic group (p=0.00001). Preventive effect of smoking was more pronounced in females than in males in our cohort.

CONCLUSIONS: Further well-designed and large prospective studies are required to better understand the importance of these findings, and to validate the prediction model presented here.