Elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme correlates with specific HLA-DRB1 alleles and extrapulmonary manifestations in sarcoidosis.

Background: Genetics influence the clinical picture in sarcoidosis, a granulomatous heterogeneous disease often accompanied by elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme (s-ACE). We aimed to investigate if certain HLA-DRB1 alleles correlate with the levels of s-ACE, known as a marker of the granuloma burden.

Methods: Medical journals of patients with sarcoidosis from a Swedish clinical registry were retrospectively examined to extract the highest recorded s-ACE value and analysed in relation to patient characteristics including phenotype [Löfgren syndrome (LS)/ non-LS], chest X-ray staging according to Scadding, treatment with immunosuppressants, presence of extrapulmonary manifestations (EPM), HLA-DRB1 alleles and prognosis (resolving vs.

Clinical Outcomes and Predictors of Long-Term Survival in Patients With and Without Previously Known Extracardiac Sarcoidosis Using Machine Learning: A Swedish Multicenter Study.

Background Cardiac involvement can be an initial manifestation in sarcoidosis. However, little is known about the association between various clinical phenotypes of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and outcomes. We aimed to analyze the relation of different clinical manifestations with outcomes of CS and to investigate the relative importance of clinical features influencing overall survival.

Comparing severe COVID-19 outcomes of first and second/third waves: a prospective single-centre cohort study of health-related quality of life and pulmonary outcomes 6 months after infection.

Objective: We aimed to compare long-term outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors between the first and second/third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) and respiratory health 6 months post-ICU and to study potential associations between patient characteristic and treatment variables regarding 6-month outcomes.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Peripheral blood lymphopenia in sarcoidosis associates with HLA-DRB1 alleles but not with lung immune cells and organ involvement.

Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles associate with disease phenotypes in sarcoidosis. Peripheral blood (PB) lymphopenia is reported as more common in sarcoidosis patients with worse prognosis. The mechanisms behind are unrecognized but a PB depletion due to lymphocytes migrating to lung and/or extra pulmonary organs has been suggested.

Sarcoidosis: Epidemiology and clinical insights.

Sarcoidosis is characterized by noncaseating granulomas which form in almost any part of the body, primarily in the lungs and/or thoracic lymph nodes. Environmental exposures in genetically susceptible individuals are believed to cause sarcoidosis. There is variation in incidence and prevalence by region and race.

Phenotypic and HLA-DRB1 allele characterization of Swedish cardiac sarcoidosis patients.

Background: Early detection and initiation of treatment in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is believed to be crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of CS is challenging, especially in isolated CS (ICS). Certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DRB1) alleles associate with different phenotypes of sarcoidosis.

Differences in disease presentation between men and women with sarcoidosis: A cohort study.

Background: Sarcoidosis is an elusive disease due to its heterogeneity. It is well recognized that the clinical picture is dependent on ethnicity, organ involvement and age. However, data on the role of sex is inconsistent.

The role of ventilatory support for long-term outcomes after critical infection with COVID-19: A prospective cohort study.

Objectives: The full range of long-term health consequences in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors with COVID-19 is unclear. This study aims to investigate the role of ventilatory support for long-term pulmonary impairment in critically ill patients and further to identify risk factors for prolonged radiological recovery.

Methods: A prospective observational study from a single general hospital, including all with COVID-19 admitted to ICU between March and August 2020, investigating the association between ventilatory support and the extent of residual parenchymal changes on chest computed tomography (CT) scan and measurement of lung volumes at follow-up comparing high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) with invasive ventilation.

HLA-DRB1 alleles associate with hypercalcemia in sarcoidosis.

Background: The mechanisms behind and which patients are at risk of developing sarcoidosis associated hypercalcemia (SAHC) have not been addressed. Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles associate with disease phenotypes in sarcoidosis. Insights into associations between HLA alleles, clinical phenotype and calcium levels may provide clues to mechanisms behind SAHC and help monitoring patients at risk for SAHC.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell subsets associate with the disease course in Löfgren's and non-Löfgren's sarcoidosis patients.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous inflammatory disorder, that predominantly involves the lungs. Patients with Löfgren's syndrome (LS) are characterized by acute onset and usually have the HLA-DRB1*03 (DR3) allele and a good prognosis. Non-LS patients are usually DR3 and are more likely to develop chronic disease.

Long-term consequences in critically ill COVID-19 patients: A prospective cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 can cause severe disease with need of treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) for several weeks. Increased knowledge is needed about the long-term consequences.

Methods: This is a single-center prospective follow-up study of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU for respiratory organ support between March and July 2020.

Lung CD4+ Vα2.3+ T-cells in sarcoidosis cohorts with Löfgren's syndrome.

Background: Sarcoidosis is diagnosed by a combination of typical clinical and radiological findings together with biopsy proof of non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas in affected tissues and/or the cell distribution in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). We aimed at investigating the usefulness of measuring the proportion of T-cell receptor (TCR) CD4+ Vα2.3+ T-cells in BALF as an additive marker to CD4/CD8-ratio to confirm the diagnosis.

Subpopulations of cells from bronchoalveolar lavage can predict prognosis in sarcoidosis.

http://bit.ly/2Mta0Cs

Diagnostic approach for cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis.

Aims: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a potentially life-threatening condition. Early detection of CS is therefore important. The aim of this study was to eludicate the usefulness of different investigations in a subgroup of patients with sarcoidosis regarded as having an increased risk for cardiac involvement.

Cardiac involvement in Caucasian patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a potentially life-threatening condition. At present, there is no consensus with regard to the optimal non-invasive clinical evaluation and diagnostic procedures of cardiac involvement in patients with sarcoidosis. The aim of this study in a large homogenous Scandinavian sarcoidosis cohort was therefore to identify risk factors of cardiac involvement in patients with sarcoidosis, and the value of initial routine investigation with ECG and cardiac related symptoms in screening for CS.

Different HLA-DRB1 allele distributions in distinct clinical subgroups of sarcoidosis patients.

Background: A strong genetic influence by the MHC class II region has been reported in sarcoidosis, however in many studies with different results. This may possibly be caused by actual differences between distinct ethnic groups, too small sample sizes, or because of lack of accurate clinical subgrouping.

Subjects And Methods: In this study we HLA typed a large patient population (n = 754) recruited from one single centre.