title: Effect of smoking and gender on pulmonary function and clinical features in sarcoidosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of cigarette smoking on the clinical manifestations and progression of sarcoidosis is not well characterized. We sought to determine the effects of smoking in sarcoidosis patients and to evaluate for gender-specific differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the effects of cigarette smoking in 518 patients seen at the Sarcoidosis and Interstitial Lung Disease Center at Wayne State University using radiographic pattern, pulmonary function testing, and clinical features of the disease. We performed a separate analysis to evaluate for gender-specific differences based on smoking history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that smokers had significantly lower FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC values. Total lung capacity was not significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers, but diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DL(CO)) was significantly reduced in smokers. Gender-based statistical analysis showed a marked decrease in DL(CO) values among female smokers. Smokers were also found to have a higher incidence of extrapulmonary involvement as multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that both smoking and female gender are significantly associated with the development of extrapulmonary manifestations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that both cigarette smoking and gender are important in shaping the clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis. The nature of the gender difference requires further study and may be related to differences in inflammatory response.
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Detroit Medical Center, 3990 John R., 3 Hudson, Detroit, MI 48021, USA.
authors: Willane
authors: W
authors: Krell
authors: Julie M
authors: JM
authors: Bourbonnais
authors: Rajat
authors: R
authors: Kapoor
authors: Lobelia
authors: L
authors: Samavati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed