Seasonality of the onset of symptoms, tuberculin test anergy and Kveim positive reaction in a large cohort of patients with sarcoidosis.
OBJECTIVE
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology and pathogenesis. This study evaluated the seasonal variation in the onset of symptoms, Tuberculin anergy and Kveim positive reaction in a cohort of 492 patients with sarcoidosis and in a subgroup of 248 patients with known Kveim test responses.


METHODS
The medical records of 492 patients with sarcoidosis were retrospectively reviewed. Roger's test for cyclic variation was used to assess the statistical significance of the observed seasonal variation.


RESULTS
For all sarcoidosis patients (n = 492) the onset of symptoms was most frequent in spring (61.8%) and least frequent in summer (31.7%) (P < 0.001). For patients with Tuberculin anergy (n = 364) the onset of symptoms was most frequent in spring and least frequent in autumn (P < 0.001); there was no seasonal variation among Tuberculin positive patients (n = 128). Of those patients with a Kveim test result (n = 248), the onset of symptoms was most frequent in spring and least frequent in summer (P < 0.001); there was no seasonal variation for patients with a negative Kveim results (n = 50 patients).


CONCLUSIONS
The onset of the symptoms was most frequent in spring and least frequent in the second half of the year (summer or autumn) in patients with sarcoidosis, Tuberculin anergy and a positive Kveim reaction. The significance of this finding in relation to aetiology and clinical utility needs to be further assessed.
Demirkok
Sevtap Sipahi
SS
Division of Lung Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istnbul, Turkey. sevtap_sipahi@yahoo.com
Basaranoglu
Metin
M
Coker
Elif
E
Karayel
Tuncer
T
D006801:Humans; D007731:Kveim Test; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology