Pediatric Sarcoidosis: Retrospective Analysis of Biopsy-Proven Patients
Authors' conclusion
Multiorgan involvement, response to steroids, and chronic course are hallmarks of pediatric sarcoidosis. The phenotype significantly varies by age and race.
Study context
- Population
- Children with biopsies consistent with sarcoidosis, performed 2010–2020
- Participants
- 48 children
- Exposure
- Disease onset before 5 years of age vs older children
- Outcome
- Phenotype, disease course and treatment of pediatric sarcoidosis
Methodological detailsbiopsy-proven, Patients' notes reviewed retrospectively
- Biopsy-proven
- Patients' notes reviewed retrospectively
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Phenotype and treatment
- Mean age at diagnosis (years)
- 9.5
- Male to female ratio
- 0.71
- Black race
- 72%
- Multiorgan disease
- 94%
- Average number of organs involved
- 4.8
- Lymph node involvement
- 65%
- Skin involvement
- 63%
- Eye involvement
- 60%
- Raised serum calcium
- 23%
- Raised angiotensin-converting enzyme
- 76%
- NOD2 mutations (of 14 tested)
- 6
- Systemic steroids
- 81%
- Conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- 90%
- Biologic added, mostly anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF)
- 25%
- Weaned off steroids
- 58%
- Remained on long-term DMARDs
- 85%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Features by ageUnder 5 years vs Older children · splenomegaly more often | P = 0.001 |
| Features by ageUnder 5 years vs Older children · spleen involvement more often | P = 0.003 |
| Features by ageUnder 5 years vs Older children · higher CRP | P = 0.10 |
Features by age
- Weight loss more common in adolescents (P = 0.006)
Organ involvement in Black patients
- Kidney involvement more common in Black patients (P = 0.004)
- Eye involvement more common in Black patients (P = 0.005)
- Liver involvement more common in Black patients (P = 0.03)
Predictors of treatment outcome (regression)
- No single factor associated with positive treatment outcomes
Original publication
Pediatric Sarcoidosis: Retrospective Analysis of Biopsy-Proven Patients. J Rheumatol. Published 15 August 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →