New LiteratureTherapy for sarcoidosis: evidence-based recommendations, by Baughman RP, Nunes H. Treatment of sarcoidosis depends on the level of symptoms and the duration of disease. Based on current evidence, a specific plan for therapy can usually be developed. While there is no single therapy for all patients, a stepwise approach seems reasonable for most cases. It should be noted that not all patients respond to therapy. In recent reports, it was found that the mortality from sarcoidosis has remained the same or has risen over the past 20 years, despite the increasing use of anti-inflammatory drugs. There is some controversy about whether the mortality associated with sarcoidosis is as high as the 5% noted in referral centers, or the less than 1% noted at primary centers. However, it is clear that there is a subset of severe chronic patients. The rate of these chronic patients appears to be similar at sarcoidosis clinics around the world. Read more ► Pulmonary fibrosis is associated with an elevated risk of thromboembolic disease, by Sprunger DB, et al. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in lung fibrosis. Large-scale epidemiological data regarding the risk of VTE in pulmonary fibrosis-associated mortality have not been published. Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1988–2007, we determined the risk of VTE in decedents with pulmonary fibrosis in the USA. Decedents with pulmonary fibrosis had a significantly greater risk of VTE. Those with VTE and pulmonary fibrosis died at a younger age than those with pulmonary fibrosis alone. These data suggest a link between a pro-fibrotic and a pro-coagulant state. Read more ► Delayed Access and Survival in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, by Lamas DJ, et al. Delays in accessing care occur frequently among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The harms of delayed access to an interstitial lung disease (ILD) center have not been previously examined. Delayed access to a tertiary care center is associated with a higher risk of death in IPF independent of disease severity. Early referral to an ILD center should be considered for those with suspected or known interstitial lung disease. Read more ►
Minimal (clinically) important differences for the Fatigue Assessment
Scale in sarcoidosis, by de Kleijn WP, et al. The usefulness of any
questionnaire in clinical management and research trials depends on its
ability to indicate a likelihood of treatment success during follow-up.
The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) reflects a clinically
relevant change score. The aim of this study was to estimate the MCID
for the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) in patients with sarcoidosis.
Outpatients (n = 321) of the ild care team of the Dept. of Respiratory
Medicine of the Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands,
participated in this prospective follow-up study. Based on the
anchor-based and distribution-based methods, the MCID is a 4-point
difference on the FAS.
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