IntroductionSarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease which predominantly affects the lungs, although granulomas can also involve all other organs, including the heart. Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) may occur at any stage of the disease and may be the cause of sudden cardiac death, even in a previously asymptomatic patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of CS in a large group of patients diagnosed or followed up due to sarcoidosis.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients at our institution discharged with the final diagnosis “sarcoidosis” (ICD-10: D86) from January 2008 to October 2012. Only those with biopsy (from respiratory tract or lymph nodes) confirmed diagnosis of sarcoidosis were included. We then selected the subset of patients with cardiac involvement due to sarcoidosis confirmed by positive magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsThe study covered 1375 consecutive sarcoidosis patients (51 % men), who were hospitalized during 5 years. Multiorgan disease was detected in 160 cases (11.7 %), and cardiac involvement was found in 64 patients (4.7 % of all), 70.3 % of whom were men. Twelve of those with CS were in stage I, 48 in stage II, and four in stage III. The odds ratio for having cardiac involvement in men compared to women was 2.3 (95 % CI 1.36–4.0, p = 0.002).ConclusionsCardiac involvement in sarcoidosis was diagnosed in the similar percentage as in previously published data but was significantly more frequently in men.

Interferon gamma release assays based on M. tuberculosis--specific antigens in sarcoidosis patientsTesty oparte na wydzielaniu interferonu gamma pod wpływem antygenów swoistych dla M. tuberculosis u chorych na sarkoidozęThe authors declare no finacial disclosure AbstractIntroduction: This study is a part of the project on interferon gamma release assays performed in the group of untreated sarcoidosis patients formerly BCG vaccinated. The aim of the study was to assess the rate of positive commercial interferon g release assays in sarcoidosis patients. We discussed the results in the context of hypothesis that M. tuberculosis antigens may play a role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. Material and methods: 151 patients, mean age 38 ± 10.3, treatment naive, with newly diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis were enrolled into the study. All participants underwent QFT-GIT assay. A subgroup of 81 patients underwent also T-SPOT.TB assay. Results: QFT-GIT was positive in 7/151. T-SPOT.TB was positive in 3/81. There were no indeterminate results in both IGRAs. There was no statistically significant relationship between IGRAs results and sarcoidosis parameters such as the radiologic stage, disease duration and the presence of Löfgren's syndrome. Conclusions: In sarcoidosis patients formerly BCG vaccinated, positive rate of IGRAs was 4.6% for QFT-GIT and 3.7% for T-SPOT. TB. We did not find the influence of the selected parameters of sarcoidosis on IGRAs results. Key words: sarcoidosis, interferon gamma release assays, latent tuberculosis infectionPneumonol Alergol Pol 2015; 83: 126-134 Streszczenie Wstęp: Prezentowana praca jest częścią projektu dotyczącego testów opartych na wydzielaniu interferonu gamma pod wpływem antygenów swoistych dla prątka gruźlicy przeprowadzonego na dużej grupie nieleczonych chorych na sarkoidozę w populacji powszechnie i wielokrotnie szczepionej przeciwko gruźlicy. Celem pracy była ocena wyników testów IGRA w tej grupie chorych. W pracy dyskutowany jest problem przydatności testów IGRA w wykrywaniu zakażenia prątkiem gruźlicy w kontekście współ-cześnie prezentowanych poglądów dotyczących roli antygenów prątka gruźlicy w etiopatogenezie sarkoidozy. Materiał i metody: W badaniu uczestniczyło 151 chorych na sarkoidozę, w wieku 38 ± 10,3 roku, nigdy nieleczonych. Wszyscy uczestnicy badania mieli wykonany test QFT-GIT. Z grupy badanej utworzono podgrupę 81 chorych na sarkoidozę, którym wykonano w tym samym czasie drugi test IGRA: T-SPOT.TB. Wyniki: Dodatni wynik testu QFT-GIT stwierdzono u 7/151 badanych, a wynik testu T-SPOT-TB u 3/81 badanych. Nie stwierdzono wyników nieokreślonych. Nie stwierdzono statystycznie istotnej zależności pomiędzy wynikiem testu IGRA a wybranymi parametrami klinicznymi sarkoidozy. Wnioski: U chorych na sarkoidozę szczepionych w przeszłości przeciwko gruźlicy szczepionką BCG odsetek dodatnich wyników IGRA wynosił 4,6% dla QFT-GIT oraz 3,7% dla T-SPOT.TB. Nie wykazano wpływu wybranych parametrów klinicznych sarkoidozy na wynik testów IGRA.Słowa kluczowe: sarkoidoza, testy opart...

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Cancers are one of the risk factors of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. The majority of data in this group of patients concern infections caused by Mycobacterium avium—the most prevalent NTM species worldwide. In contrast, limited information can be found regarding the uncommon NTM such as Mycobacterium szulgai. We present the case of M. szulgai lung disease in a patient with a history of breast cancer. Coexistence of NTM lung disease and breast cancer lung metastasis as well as primary lung cancer was suspected. Finally, neoplastic disease was ruled out based on negative results of endobronchial biopsy and negative tumor markers for lung and breast cancer. M. szulgai lung disease was successfully treated with rifampicin, ethambutol and clarithromycin.