title: Sarcoidosis in World Trade Center rescue workers presenting with rheumatologic manifestations.
abstract: The health consequences of the World Trade Center collapse are unknown, but likely to be significant and may take years to fully appreciate. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characterized pathologically by noncaseating granulomas. Inciting events, such as infectious agents or possible environmental exposures, have been postulated as the source of antigen exposure initiating an inflammatory cascade. We describe 2 cases of sarcoidosis in rescue workers with significant exposure from the World Trade Center collapse, who presented with extrapulmonary rheumatologic manifestations. Our first case involved a 33-year-old white New York City man detective found to have sarcoidosis following an evaluation of diffuse joint pain. The second case involved a 40-year-old African American man, New York City officer, who presented with uveitis, and was subsequently diagnosed with sarcoidosis. These 2 cases extend the spectrum of disorders resulting from the World Trade Center disaster and illustrate the need for clinicians to be aware of the diverse presentations of sarcoidosis in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA. BBower01@NYIT.edu
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: Sarfaraz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasni
authors.forename: Barry L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gruber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D018635:Rescue Work; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D017741:Survivors; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents