WASOG Website launched!

The new official webiste of WASOG (World Association for Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders). Note that this website is still under construction. Any ideas, suggestions and comments are very welcome. Please do not hesitate to contact us!
 

---

Call for Case Reports

The WASOG website offers a unique opportunity to publish your case report online (open access)! Don't hesitate and share your findings with the rest of the community. Read more...

---

WASOG is pleased to welcome you to the combined 10th WASOG Meeting and the 12th International Conference on BAL. The meeting is co-organized by the Dutch Society of Pulmonologists (NVALT) and endorsed by the European Respiratory Society (ERS). The scientific program will be finalized by the end of November 2010 and will be available to you soonafter. For more information and updates see WASOG BAL 2011!
 

---

New Literature

The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha G-308A polymorphisms in the course of pulmonary sarcoidosis, by Petal Wijnen, et al. Sarcoidosis is most likely the product of genetic susceptibility and an appropriate environmental antigen. The clinical presentation and outcome of sarcoidosis varies considerably. In a retrospective case–control study, TNF-α G-308A and HLA-DRB1*03 were genotyped in 625 sarcoidosis patients. These patients were classified into 298 patients with persistent disease and 327 patients with non-persistent disease using chest X-ray (CXR) appearances and lung function parameters after at least 2 years of follow-up. The results of this study indicate that presence of a TNF-alpha-308A variant allele and HLA-DRB1*03 were associated with a favorable prognosis. Because of the strong linkage between TNF-alpha G-308A and HLA-DRB1*03, genotyping of one simple and less expensive TNF-alpha single nucleotide polymorphism can be used to predict the prognosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis in clinical practice. Read more...

Sarcoidosis by Jan C. Grutters, Marjolein Drent and Jules M.M. van den Bosch. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown cause. It commonly affects young and middle-aged adults and frequently presents with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary infiltration, ocular and skin lesions. Other organs may also be involved. The diagnosis is established when clinicoradiological findings are supported by histological evidence of noncaseating epitheloid cell granulomas. Granulomas of known causes and local sarcoid reactions must be excluded. The course and prognosis may correlate with the mode of the onset and the extent of the disease. Read Fulltext article...

Update in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by Stephen K. Frankel and Marvin I. Schwarz. Although the diagnosis of IPF remains challenging, an evolution in systems of practice and advancing technologies are steadily improving diagnostic accuracy. The identification of concomitant pulmonary hypertension as well as acute exacerbations of the underlying disease have taken on increasing importance in the natural history of IPF. Similarly, the management of IPF remains challenging, and although a number of recent trials of novel investigational agents for the treatment of IPF yielded negative results, at least one of these trials showed significant benefit suggesting progress in the treatment of this disease. Read more...

Comparison of necropsy findings in patients with sarcoidosis dying suddenly from cardiac sarcoidosis versus dying suddenly from other causes by Tavora et al. The clinical diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis can be difficult and is largely dependent on newer imaging modalities. cardiac sarcoidosis causing sudden death is characterized by extensive active granulomas with a predilection for the subepicardium and ventricular septum. Read more...