title: Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension in patients with near-normal lung function.
abstract: METHODS
  Tertiary care medical centre in Israel.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a predictor of poor outcome in patients with sarcoidosis. Early diagnosis may improve outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine factors that might contribute to the early diagnosis of PH in sarcoidosis  patients with near normal lung function tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective patient review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 127 patients with sarcoidosis and near normal lung function tests (forced vital capacity > 70%, forced expiratory volume in 1 second > 70% and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide  [D(LCO)] > 60%), who underwent high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan, the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) test and echocardiogram were analysed. Demographic, clinical and HRCT findings were compared between patients with and those without PH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six patients  (28.3%) had PH. Patients with PH tended to have lower D(LCO) (68% ± 8 vs. 75% ± 17, P = 0.038), 6MWD (308 m ± 106 vs. 486 m ± 99, P = 0.009) and exercise saturation (91 ± 4 vs. 95 ± 3, P = 0.0001) compared to those without  PH. HRCT patterns in PH showed higher frequencies of interstitial thickening (P = 0.004), ground glass appearance (P = 0.01) and fibrosis (P = 0.032). In logistic regression, only 6MWD was predictive of PH (P = 0.005, 95%CI 0.970-0.995).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physiological  and radiographic characteristics appeared to differentiate patients with PH from those without. Physicians should be aware of PH in patients with sarcoidosis, even in those with near normal lung function.
authors: Pulmonary Institute, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Maimon
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Salz
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Shershevsky
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Matveychuk
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Guber
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Shitrit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007557:Israel; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014797:Vital Capacity