Clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis among inner-city African-American dwellers.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize clinical, radiographic and physiological features of sarcoidosis among African Americans residing in inner-city Chicago.


METHODS
This is a retrospective review of medical records of 75 African Americans with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis from internal medicine and pulmonary clinics at three inner-city, acute care hospitals in Chicago.


RESULTS
The number of organs involved was 1.77 +/- 0.94 (mean +/- SD). The most common sites for tissue diagnosis were lung (49%), skin (19%) and lymph nodes (16%). Thirty-six (48%) patients had stage-2 and -3 disease on chest x-ray. Electrocardiographic changes and ocular involvement were detected in 23% and 21% of patients, respectively. Nineteen (25%) patients had obstructive defect (FEV1 1.71 +/- 0.78 L/s), 15 (20%) had a restrictive defect [TLC 4.1 +/- 1.2 L (63.9 +/- 9.2% predicted)]. Three patients had both restrictive and obstructive defect. Forced vital capacity and FEV1 declined by 0.26 L and 0.09 L/s per year, respectively, in patients with an obstructive defect. Most patients (91%) were treated with prednisone for 3.8 +/- 3.9 years (range 0-20 years).


CONCLUSIONS
African Americans with sarcoidosis residing in inner-city Chicago express a high rate of chronic progressive disease necessitating corticosteroid therapy. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the reasons underlying this paradigm.
Mutlu
Gökhan M
GM
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Rubinstein
Israel
I
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001741:Black or African American; D002641:Chicago; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014505:Urban Population
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones