BACKGROUND: This study describes the features of sarcoidosis among Arab patients and compares it to Jewish patients residing in northern Israel. METHODS: All new cases of biopsy-confirmed sarcoidosis diagnosed between 1980 and 1996 in northern Israel were divided into two groups according to their ethnic origin: Jewish (n = 72) and Arabic (n = 48). Disease parameters were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Arabs and Jews had similar incidence rates that increased from 0.2/10(5) in 1980 to 2/10(5) per year in 1996. The peak incidence was in the sixth and seventh decades and the female/male ratio was 2 and 1.4 for Arabic and Jewish patients, respectively. Jewish patients had higher proportion stage II-IV pulmonary disease (78% vs. 51.2%) while their Arabic counterparts had higher proportion of stage I disease (70.8% vs. 41.7%). The proportion of extra-thoracic organ involvement was similar. Different disease phenotype indicated differed diagnostic procedures; higher proportion of mediastinoscopy for stage I disease among Arabic patients (47.9% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.015) and trans-bronchial biopsy for stage II-IV pulmonary disease among Jewish patients (25% vs. 8.35%, P = 0.05). Corticosteroids were used in a non-significantly higher proportion of Jewish patients (56.9% vs. 43.8%, P > 0.05). Of six sarcoidosis-related deaths (5%), five occurred in Jewish patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study has documented different forms of presentation, clinical manifestation, severity and prognosis of sarcoidosis present among patients of Arabic and Jewish origin residing in the area of northern Israel.
BACKGROUND: This study describes the features of sarcoidosis among Arab patients and compares it to Jewish patients residing in northern Israel. METHODS: All new cases of biopsy-confirmed sarcoidosis diagnosed between 1980 and 1996 in northern Israel were divided into two groups according to their ethnic origin: Jewish (n = 72) and Arabic (n = 48). Disease parameters were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Arabs and Jews had similar incidence rates that increased from 0.2/10(5) in 1980 to 2/10(5) per year in 1996. The peak incidence was in the sixth and seventh decades and the female/male ratio was 2 and 1.4 for Arabic and Jewish patients, respectively. Jewish patients had higher proportion stage II-IV pulmonary disease (78% vs. 51.2%) while their Arabic counterparts had higher proportion of stage I disease (70.8% vs. 41.7%). The proportion of extra-thoracic organ involvement was similar. Different disease phenotype indicated differed diagnostic procedures; higher proportion of mediastinoscopy for stage I disease among Arabic patients (47.9% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.015) and trans-bronchial biopsy for stage II-IV pulmonary disease among Jewish patients (25% vs. 8.35%, P = 0.05). Corticosteroids were used in a non-significantly higher proportion of Jewish patients (56.9% vs. 43.8%, P > 0.05). Of six sarcoidosis-related deaths (5%), five occurred in Jewish patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study has documented different forms of presentation, clinical manifestation, severity and prognosis of sarcoidosis present among patients of Arabic and Jewish origin residing in the area of northern Israel.
Authors: Fatima Alnaimat; Khaled Al Oweidat; Anas Alrwashdeh; Ahmad Alnashrati; Saba Barham; Mohammad Hijaz; Dina Murad; Sameeha Alshelleh; Nathir Obeidat Journal: Arch Rheumatol Date: 2020-02-07 Impact factor: 1.472