A Gillman1, C Steinfort. 1. Department of Respiratory medicine, Geelong Hospital, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. andrewjg@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The incidence of sarcoidosis in Australia is unknown. The clinical features, diagnostic strategy and treatment of sarcoidosis in Australia have been poorly documented. METHODS: We analysed the medical records of 122 patients with sarcoidosis presenting to a respiratory service, between 1995 and 2005, which serves a regional southeastern Australian population of approximately 200,000. RESULTS: The incidence of sarcoidosis from 2000 to 2005 remained static and ranged from 4.4 to 6.3 patients per 100,000 population. The data showed that 55% were women and 28% were current smokers. Systems involved included lung parenchyma (66%), thoracic adenopathy (58%), skin (22%), ocular (18%), joint (11%), gastrointestinal tract (5%), central nervous system (3%) and hypercalcaemia (3%). Fifty-one per cent of patients had an increased serum angiotensin-converting enzyme level. The diagnosis was secured based on histological confirmation in 69%. Forty-three per cent of the patients were treated with oral corticosteroids and 10% with inhaled steroids. CONCLUSION: Sarcoidosis in Australia is a multi-system disease of unknown aetiology. This is the first reported incidence of sarcoidosis in Australia. The incidence is similar to another US-based epidemiological study of a predominately white population. The development of a larger multicentre database would assist in the identification, clinical description and treatment of sarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND: The incidence of sarcoidosis in Australia is unknown. The clinical features, diagnostic strategy and treatment of sarcoidosis in Australia have been poorly documented. METHODS: We analysed the medical records of 122 patients with sarcoidosis presenting to a respiratory service, between 1995 and 2005, which serves a regional southeastern Australian population of approximately 200,000. RESULTS: The incidence of sarcoidosis from 2000 to 2005 remained static and ranged from 4.4 to 6.3 patients per 100,000 population. The data showed that 55% were women and 28% were current smokers. Systems involved included lung parenchyma (66%), thoracic adenopathy (58%), skin (22%), ocular (18%), joint (11%), gastrointestinal tract (5%), central nervous system (3%) and hypercalcaemia (3%). Fifty-one per cent of patients had an increased serum angiotensin-converting enzyme level. The diagnosis was secured based on histological confirmation in 69%. Forty-three per cent of the patients were treated with oral corticosteroids and 10% with inhaled steroids. CONCLUSION:Sarcoidosis in Australia is a multi-system disease of unknown aetiology. This is the first reported incidence of sarcoidosis in Australia. The incidence is similar to another US-based epidemiological study of a predominately white population. The development of a larger multicentre database would assist in the identification, clinical description and treatment of sarcoidosis.