Clinical presentation of sarcoidosis in a mixed population in the middle east.

BACKGROUND

Regional and ethnic differences in the presentation and prognosis of sarcoidosis have been reported.

OBJECTIVES

To describe and compare the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis among Arabs and South East Asians (SEA).

METHODS

Data on patients with sarcoidosis were collected retrospectively 1983-1995 and prospectively 1995-2003.

RESULTS

A total of 142 patients, 57% females and 80% Arabs, were identified. The age at onset shows the majority of cases (45%) among Arab males occur at 30-39 years, 60% of Arab females occur at 40-59 years and 61% of SEA males occur at 40-49 years. The most common symptoms were cough 77.5%, dyspnoea 54.2%, fever 31.0%, arthralgia 19%, uveitis 14.8%, erythema nodosum 14.8%, and lymphadenopathy 12%. The radiological stage at presentation was stage 0,2.1%, I,44.4%, II,42.3%, and III,11.3%. The frequency of either stage 0 or I was higher among SEA (62%) compared to Arabs 42.5%, p=0.05.

CONCLUSION

There is a peak of sarcoidosis among Arab males at 30-39 years, Arab females at 40-59 years and SEA males at 40-49 years. Arab patients presented more frequently with either stage II or III compared to SEA who usually present with stage 0 or I.