Hemoptysis in sarcoidosis.

The medical records of 433 patients with sarcoidosis were reviewed to determine the prevalence and significance of hemoptysis in this disease. Twenty-five patients (6%) were found to have hemoptysis. Nineteen of the 25 patients had mild hemoptysis, four had moderate, and two had massive hemoptysis. The clinical, roentgenographic, and laboratory features in patients with hemoptysis were compared with those from an age, race, and sex matched control group of sarcoidosis patients without hemoptysis. With the exception of eye involvement which occurred with greater frequency in control patients, no significant differences were found between the two groups. While bronchoscopy may be useful in establishing a diagnosis of endobronchial sarcoidosis, identification of a specific bleeding site is not likely in the absence of massive hemoptysis or localized radiographic abnormalities. Corticosteroid therapy may be useful to control hemoptysis in some patients.