Table 1.
Baseline clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and predisposing factors in the group of patients with sarcoidosis
| Variable | No. of cases/No. of patients or range | (%) or average ± SD |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Female | 13/31 | 41.9 |
| Male | 18/31 | 58.1 |
| Age (years) | 24–64 | 42.6 ± 13.0 |
| Tobacco smoke | ||
| Active | 9/31 | 29.0 |
| Secondary | 20/31 | 64.5 |
| Area of residence | ||
| Rural | 15/31 | 48.4 |
| Urban | 16/31 | 51.6 |
| Healthy condition | ||
| Shortness of breath, wheezing | 12/31 | 38.7 |
| Cough | 16/31 | 51.6 |
| Expectoration | 4/31 | 12.9 |
| Fatigue: | 22/31 | 71.0 |
| a short walk (n = 1) | 1/22 | 4.5 |
| 1st floor (n = 4) | 4/22 | 18.2 |
| 2nd floor (n = 17) | 17/22 | 77.3 |
| Hypertension, coronary artery disease | 4/31 | 12.9 |
| Allergy | 3/31 | 9.7 |
| Asthma | 1/31 | 3.2 |
| Recurrent infection (≥3/year) | 1/31 | 3.2 |
| Recurrent infections in childhood | 8/31 | 25.8 |
| Other (anaemia, celiac disease, thyroid disorders) | 8/31 | 25.8 |
| Tuberculosis | 2/31 | 6.5 |
| Laboratory findings | ||
| FVC (ml) | 2740–6200 | 4208.1 ± 883.2 |
| FEV1 (ml) | 1600–5050 | 3231 ± 810.3 |
| FEV1/FVC% | 58–95 | 76.5 ± 8.7 |
| pH | 7.35–7.49 | 7.43 ± 0.03 |
| pO2 (mmHg) | 63.2–108 | 82.6 ± 10.5 |
| pCO2 (mmHg) | 32.8–49.1 | 95.4 ± 2.7 |
| Saturation (%) | 90.9–97.3 | 95.4 ± 1.8 |
| IgG (g/l, reference: 7.0–16.0) | 7.1–21.6 | 10.8 ± 2.7 |
| IgM (g/l, reference: 0.4–2.3) | 0.28–3.54 | 1.38 ± 0.8 |
| IgA (g/l, reference: 0.7–4.0) | 0.51–6.9 | 2.57 ± 1.3 |
| CRP (mg/l, reference: 0.0–5.0): | 0.51–80.48 | 7.23 ± 16.7 |
| 0.0–5.0 (n = 25) | 0.51–4.15 | 1.51 ± 0.93 |
| 5.1–80.48 (n = 6) | 5.8–80.48 | 31.10 ± 28.83 |
| Changes in CT scan | 30/30 | 100 |
| Changes in X-ray | 19/20 | 95 |
| Changes observed during bronchofiberoscopy | 14/17 | 82.4 |
Data were presented as: No. of positive samples/No. of examinations or value range; mean ± SD
Abbreviations: CT computed tomography, CRP C-reactive protein, FEV 1 forced expiratory volume in one second, FVC forced vital capacity, IgA, IgM, IgG immunoglobulin A, M, G, NP nasopharynx, SP sputum; susceptibility to “fatigue” was associated with a short walk on a flat surface, or with stair walk to the first or second floors. “Fatigue” was self reported as being unable to go any further