Table 4:
Comparing baseline characteristics of cardiac sarcoidosis patients who did and did not receive TNF-α inhibitor treatment
| Clinical Characteristic | Non-TNF-α Inhibitor Treated (n = 57) | TNF- α Inhibitor Treated (n = 20) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at diagnosis m years, mean (SD) | 54 (13) | 55 (7) | 0.741 |
| Women | 23 (40) | 7 (35) | 0.792 |
| Race | |||
| White | 35 (61) | 16 (80) | 0.173 |
| Black | 9 (16) | 3 (15) | 0.999 |
| Asian | 6 (11) | 1 (5) | 0.669 |
| Hispanic | 7 (12) | 0 (0) | 0.180 |
| Diagnostic category | |||
| Definite Cardiac Sarcoidosis | 8 (14) | 3 (15) | 0.999 |
| Probable Cardiac Sarcoidosis | 21 (37) | 10 (50) | 0.427 |
| Possible Cardiac Sarcoidosis | 28 (49) | 7 (35) | 0.308 |
| Smoking (ever) | 15 (26) | 1 (5) | 0.056 |
| Body mass index at diagnosis, mean (SD) | 28 (5) | 29 (5) | 0426 |
| Normal weight (< 25) | 15(26) | 3 (15) | 0.372 |
| Overweight (≥ 25 and < 30) | 22 (39) | 8 (40) | 0.999 |
| Obese (≥ 30) | 20 (35) | 9 (45) | 0.437 |
| Initial clinical presentation | |||
| Heart block | 36 (63) | 13 (65) | 0.999 |
| 1st degree | 7 (12) | 3 (15) | 0.714 |
| 2nd degree | 0 (0) | 3 (15) | 0.016 |
| 3rd degree | 16 (28) | 7 (35) | 0.580 |
| Tachyarrhythmia | 26 (46) | 11 (55) | 0.604 |
| Palpitations | 16 (28) | 6 (30) | 0.999 |
| heart failure | 25 (44) | 3 (15) | 0.030 |
| Syncope | 10 (18) | 6 (30) | 0.336 |
| Echocardiography | |||
| Initial LVEF at time of diagnosis, mean (SD) | 42 (15) | 48 (16) | 0.146 |
| Worst LVEF at any rime mean (SD) | 34 (14) | 39 (16) | 0.139 |
*
Data are number (%) except for age, BMI, and LVEF, which are mean (SD). Statistical analysis with Student t-test and Fisher exact test as appropriate. TNF-α = tumor necrosis factor alpha; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction.