Circulating D dimer in patients with sarcoidosis.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between D dimer (DD) status and markers of disease activity in patients with sarcoidosis. DESIGN: Prospective, observational analysis. SETTING: Pulmonary clinic of a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive individuals with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis. INTERVENTION: Determination of serum DD. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The study cohort included 28 subjects, and DD was present in 39.3%. DD status correlated with the radiographic stage of disease (p = 0. 035), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (p = 0.026), serum angiotensin-converting enzyme level (p = 0.006), and the presence of dyspnea (p = 0.034). Patients with circulating DD were 3. 8 times more likely to have radiographic evidence of interstitial involvement. DD was not associated with either FVC or the FEV(1). CONCLUSIONS: DD is frequently positive in patients with sarcoidosis. DD is associated with disease activity as measured by radiograph, pulmonary function tests, and serum markers of inflammation.