title: Sarcoidosis and risk of venous thromboembolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory myositis and systemic lupus erythematosus, have been linked to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the data on sarcoidosis is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the risk of VTE among patients with sarcoidosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that reported odds ratio, relative risk, hazard ratio or standardized incidence ratio comparing risk of VTE in patients with sarcoidosis versus non-sarcoidosis participants. Estimated effects were extracted from each study and were pooled together using the random-effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 772 potentially relevant articles, three eligible studies were identified and included in the data analysis. The pooled risk ratio of VTE in patients with sarcoidosis was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.12-1.79). The statistical heterogeneity of this study was moderate with an I2 of 72%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated a statistically significant increased VTE risk among patients with sarcoidosis.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. p.ungprasert@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Patompong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ungprasert
authors.forename: Narat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srivali
authors.forename: Karn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wijarnpreecha
authors.forename: Charat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thongprayoon
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy