[Prognostic factors for predicting the outcome of pulmonary sarcoidosis: clinical study based on cross-sectional survey of 115 cases]

Abstract

We studied cross-sectionally 115 patients (36 men & 79 women) to analyze the prognostic factors retrospectively. These patients were examined for a response to our request to visit our institution, out of 277 patients (114 men & 163 women) with pulmonary sarcoidosis in our institute for the period from 1956 to 1988. The outcome of sarcoidosis is evaluated by chest X-rays (CXR) and other laboratory test regarding pulmonary, cardiac, ocular or other organ. The mean follow-up interval was 78.2 months (range 1-271 months) and the mean age was 42.5 years at the initial examination (range 5-71 years). Among those patients, 101 patients were followed-up over one year period. Selection bias was noted by the predominance of women and ocular involvement (70% and 60% in 101 patients, 59% and 50% in 277 patients). CXR prognosis and systemic prognosis were related to age at the final examination and observation time. These results indicate that abnormal CXR findings and systemic functional deficit resided in the elderly and disease itself tended to regress beyond 2 years' observation. Both chronic tonsillitis and ocular involvement were significantly correlated with CXR prognosis and systemic prognosis, by Mantel-Haenzel's chi 2-test corrected by both of age and observation time. The relative risk was not enhanced in the presence of both ocular involvement and chronic tonsillitis. These clinical study results suggest that both of ocular involvement and chronic tonsillitis are important prognostic factors for predicting the outcome in the natural history of sarcoidosis.