Characteristics of patients presenting with erythema nodosum and sarcoidosis.
We explored the relationship between erythema nodosum (EN) and sex, age, serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytosis (BAL-I), interstitial granulomas and radiological stage in patients presenting with pulmonary sarcoidosis in Ireland. Sixty-nine patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis between 2003 and 2006 were studied. Forty one patients (59%) were male. Sixteen patients (23%) presented with EN. Forty one patients of 65 (63%) had transbronchial biopsies demonstrating non-caseating granulomas. Patients with sarcoidosis presenting with EN were more likely to be female (p=0.042), younger (p=0.012) and have earlier stage pulmonary disease (p=0.02). There were no correlations between serum ACE, interstitial granulomas and disease stage. BAL-I did however predict increasing disease radiological stage (p=0.042). In this study, one quarter of patients with sarcoidosis presented with EN among their presenting features. These patients were more likely to be young females with early stage radiological disease.
O'Connor
T M
TM
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork. terryoconnor@eircom.net
Cagney
D
D
Jahangir
A
A
Brady
A
A
Fitzgibbon
J
J
Lee
G
G
El-Gammal
A
A
Brennan
N J
NJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A