Clinical Features of Sarcoidosis in Gwangju-Chonnam Provincial Area

Ju, Jin Young; Kim, Su Ok; Lee, Eun Woo; Lim, Sung Chul; Kim, Young Chul; Park, Kyung Ok

Abstract

To compare the clinical features of sarcoidosis in Gwangju and Chonnam provincial area with those of whole Korea, we performed a retrospective survey of the 32 cases which were diagnosed as sarcoidosis in Chonnam University Hospital from 1980 to 2001. Twenty-seven cases were confirmed by biopsy and 5 cases were diagnosed clinically. On the initial presentation, 9.3% of patients were asymptomatic. Among those who had any symptoms, 50% of the patients complained respiratory symptoms, 34.4% showed dermatologic problems, 6.3% had generalized discomforts, and 3.1% complained eye symptoms. The common sites involved were the lungs and mediastinum (65.6%). According to Siltzbach classification, stage 0 was 22.5%, stage I and II occupied 38.7% and 25.8% of the cases respectively and 12.9% had stage III disease. Reduction of DLCO (diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide) was observed in 20% of patients. Hypercalcemia was found in 18.7% and serum angiotensin converting enzyme was elevated in 66.6%. The pathologic diagnosis was made by transbronchial lung biopsy (33.3%), skin biopsy (33.3%), open lung biopsy (14.8%), mediastinoscopy (7.4%), and by biopsy of peripheral lymph nodes (7.4%). The clinical features of sarcoidosis in Gwangju and Chonnam province were not significantly different compared to those in whole Korea. As the incidence of sarcoidosis is increasing recently, physicians need to be aware of various manifestations of sarcoidosis.