J Respir Med Lung Dis | Volume 4, Issue 2 | Review Article | Open Access
Halil Yanardag1, Cuneyt Tetikkurt2*, Muammer Bilir1 and Emre Yanardag3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Cerrahpasa University, Turkey 2Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Istanbul Cerrahpasa University, Turkey 3Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki State Hospital, Turkey
*Correspondance to: Cuneyt Tetikkurt
Fulltext PDFThe aim of our study was to determine the utility of the PFTs [Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)] and DLCO/VA [Diffusion Capacity/alveolar Volume (DLCO/VA)] in regard to the clinical prognosis of sarcoidosis patients. Another objective was to assess the prognostic significance of PFTs, DLCO/ VA, extrapulmonary organ and endobronchial involvement when these features were evaluated in collaboration. One hundred ninety four sarcoidosis patients underwent PFT, DLCO/VA, thorax CT and bronchoscopy. Extrapulmonary organ involvement was classified into two groups as limited if less than two and as extensive if three or more extrapulmonary organs were involved. Endobronchial disease was denoted as limited if one bronchial biopsy site was positive and as diffuse if more than two biopsy sites were positive histopathologically. Sarcoidosis activity was evaluated in regard to progressive stage, detoriation of pulmonary function tests, permanent decline of DLCO/VA values, and the presence of severe systemic symptoms, significant laboratory manifestations and extrapulmonary organ involvement. Low PFTs and DLCO/VA values were more frequent in patients with extensive organ and diffuse endobronchial involvement in chronic persistent disease. We conclude that PFTs and DLCO/VA may be used as decisive clinical markers to predict the prognosis of sarcoidosis patients. PFTs and DLCO/VA alone do not reveal a statistically significant determination for evaluating the prognosis of sarcoidosis. If PFTs and DLCO/VA are utilized along with extrapulmonary organ and endobronchial involvement, considerably high levels of statistical significance for the assessment of prognostic outcome may be obtained. These tests prove to be a useful diagnostic utility with easy clinical applicability to appraise the prognostic outcome of sarcoidosis patients. PFTs and DLCO/VA reval note worthy conclusions for prognosis if they are assessed in collaboration with the disease extensity other than the trivial clinical manifestations.
Sarcoidosis; Prognosis; Pulmonary function tests; Diffusion capacity
Yanardag H, Tetikkurt C, Bilir M, Yanardag E. Pulmonary Function Tests and Carbon Monoxide Transfer Coefficient Assessment of Sarcoidosis Patients in Regard to Prognosis. J Respir Med Lung Dis. 2019; 4(2): 1046.