Ocular sarcoidosis in Thailand

Abstract

Purpose To determine the prevalence of pulmonary sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis from the University Referral Centre in Thailand and to report on their clinical characteristics. Methods We performed a retrospective review of results of radiological examinations of 209 consecutive new patients, diagnosed with uveitis. In patients with signs of pulmonary sarcoidosis, we reviewed clinical characteristics including age, gender, laterality and anatomical location of uveitis, and complications.Results From 209 chest X-ray (CXR) examinations, one patient exhibited radiological signs typical of stage 1 sarcoidosis. Chest CT of three patients with posterior multifocal chorioretinitis (PMC) revealed abnormalities suggesting the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. All PMC patients were females older than 50 years; they had no pulmonary complaints and their CXRs were without abnormalities. Conclusion Ocular sarcoidosis is prevalent in Thailand and our findings suggest that possibly more patients with sarcoidosis would be identified if diagnosis was thought of and ancillary tests were performed.

Pattern of Uveitis in a University-based Referral Center in Southern Thailand

“…Recently, Pathanapitoon et al studied ocular sarcoidosis in Thailand. 32 They reported on 4 sarcoidosis patients, 2 of whom were biopsy proven cases. Three cases had chest abnormalities revealed by chest CT, not by chest radiography.…”

Sarcoidosis: Sex-Dependent Variations in Presentation and Management

“…In one study, 11 of 17 patients with a negative chest X-ray had findings suggestive of sarcoidosis on chest computed tomography (CT) [55]. This finding has been supported by others [54] and has led to the recommendation that women over 50 years of age with a clinical presentation consistent with ocular sarcoidosis should undergo chest imaging with CT rather than chest X-ray.…”

“…Seven of the patients had multifocal choroiditis and six had cystoid macular edema, both of which are rare in lymphoma [53]. This highlights two considerations in female patients over the age of 50 that posterior multifocal choroiditis may be more common in women over age of 50 [54] and that chest X-ray is often not sufficient to identify associated pulmonary sarcoidosis. In one study, 11 of 17 patients with a negative chest X-ray had findings suggestive of sarcoidosis on chest computed tomography (CT) [55].…”

Sarcoidosis in tuberculosis-endemic regions: India

“…In a study from eight countries of Asia and Africa in 1976, fewer than 30 patients were reported from India, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and United Arab Emirates, while none from Singapore and Korea [2]. In the recent years, there has been increasing reports from countries like India [3-13], Singapore [14], Malaysia [15], Thailand [16], and Taiwan [17]. In all probabilities, the disease was probably overshadowed by the presence of tuberculosis.…”