title: Severe Sarcoidosis.
abstract: In sarcoidosis, reduction in mortality and the prevention of disability due to major organ involvement are treatment goals. Thus, it is important to recognize severe disease and identify patients at higher risk of progression to severe disease. In this article, fibrotic lung disease and cardiac sarcoidosis are reviewed as the major contributors to sarcoidosis mortality and morbidity. In the absence of a standardized definition of severe pulmonary disease, a multidisciplinary approach to clinical staging is suggested, based on symptoms, pulmonary function tests, and imaging findings at presentation, integrated with the duration of disease and longitudinal disease behavior during early follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouranos
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK. Electronic address: RBHILD@rbht.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Athol U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012507:Sarcoidosis
keywords: Cardiac sarcoidosis; Pulmonary fibrosis; Sarcoidosis