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ABSTRACT: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of an unknown etiology. Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a rare manifestation of sarcoidosis, and plantar involvement is extremely rare and there is only one such case report in the medical literature. Herein we present an interesting case of a patient who was diagnosed as having subcutaneous sarcoidosis at a plantar localization because plantar involvement is extremely rare and also because of the successful outcome after performing intralesional corticosteroid therapy.
Annals of Dermatology 11/2010; 22(4):435-8. · 0.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The prognosis of sarcoidosis is highly variable, with spontaneous remission in some patients. Apoptosis may be associated with spontaneous resolution of the granulomata. CD95 (Fas), an apoptotic molecule, and CD29 and CD45RO (T-cell memory markers) are expressed at higher levels on T lymphocytes from sarcoid patients compared with normal subjects. However, the prognostic significance of CD95, CD29 and CD45RO expression in sarcoidosis is not clear. It was hypothesized that expression of CD95 would correlate with spontaneous remission.
CD29, CD45, CD45RO and CD95 expression of BAL fluid and peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes was studied with flow cytometry in 50 patients with sarcoidosis. Results of the 15 chronic patients and 21 patients who remitted spontaneously were compared.
BAL CD95 (59 vs 8, P = 0.002), and PB CD95 (48 vs 18, P = 0.004) and PB CD45RO (50 vs 41, P = 0.003) expression was significantly higher in patients with chronic disease compared with those with spontaneous remission. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy for these markers were: BAL CD95 (cut-off: 42.5%) 73.3%, 85.7%, 78.6%, 81.8% and 80.6%; PB CD95 (cut-off: 25%) 86.7%, 66.7%, 65%, 87.5% and 75%; and PB CD45RO (cut-off: 44.5%) 80%, 61.9%, 60%, 81.3% and 69.4%, respectively.
Levels of BAL and PB CD95 and PB CD45RO were unexpectedly elevated in patients with chronic disease and may be useful in predicting prognosis in patients with sarcoidosis. Further studies with more patients are necessary to confirm the prognostic role and cut-off value for these markers.
Respirology 12/2007; 12(6):869-73. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Pulmonary artery aneurysms due to Behçet's disease are mainly seen in young males and very rarely in females. To our knowledge there are only 10 cases reported in the related literature. Emergent transcatheter embolization was performed in a female patient with a known history of Behçet's disease in whom massive hemoptysis developed because of rupture of a giant pulmonary artery aneurysm. At 6-month follow-up, transformation of the aneurysm sac into an air cavity was detected. To our knowledge, such a transformation has never been reported in the literature before. Embolization of the pulmonary artery aneurysm and the mechanism of cavity transformation are reviewed and discussed.
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology 01/2006; 29(1):151-4. · 2.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from the existing vascular bed, is essential step for the growth and invasion of the primary tumor. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to play crucial role in tumor angiogenesis. Increased serum VEGF levels may be associated with poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
In the present study, we measured plasma VEGF levels in 20 normal subjects and 75 patients with untreated NSCLC; 23 operable (stages I, II, IIIA) and 52 inoperable (stages IIIB, IV) (Histology: squamous cell carcinoma, 40; adenocarcinoma, 27; undetermined, 8). VEGF was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
The median VEGF level in patient group was 119 pg/ml (29-1235), which was significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.044). Median survival of patients was 210 days (30-220). The patients were divided into high VEGF (> 119 pg/ml) and low VEGF (< 119 pg/ml) groups using the median value as a cut-off. It was investigated if there were significant associations between serum VEGF level and clinico-pathological parameters like age, sex, histopathological diagnosis and TNM staging. Also high VEGF and low VEGF patient groups were compared according to the median survival.
Serum VEGF level is significantly associated with the clinical staging of the patients (operable and inoperable) (P = 0.031) and it also correlates with the prognosis of the patients (P = 0.0006).
Respiratory Medicine 07/2004; 98(7):632-6. · 2.47 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease of unknown etiology. The presentation and frequency of different organ involvement can vary according to race, geographical location and gender. Because of the multiorgan involvement and its mimicking nature, the diagnosis is usually a challenge, even to specialists. Therefore, knowledge of the epidemiologic features of the disease is important.
The first case report of sarcoidosis in Turkey was published in 1954. We obtained data from case series by hand searching of journals and congress abstract books on pulmonary medicine between 1954 and 2000. Series of 5 or more cases were included in our compilation of data.
Data for 1327 patients with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis were obtained from 29 reports. There were nearly twice as many females as males with the disease in these case series. Most of the patients were at stage 1 or 2 at the time of diagnosis. Peripheral lymph node enlargement was reported in 119 patients, skin involvement in 22 and nervous system involvement in 12 patients. Erythema nodosum was reported in 137 patients. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme was elevated in 52% and the tuberculin skin test was positive in 24% of patients. Organ biopsies seemed to be the preferred diagnostic method in the initial papers while recent papers revealed the value of obtaining a bronchoscopic biopsy.
Despite several limitations of our study, this is the first compilation of 46 years of data on sarcoidosis in Turkey. Further studies on the geographical distribution and incidence and prevalence are needed for our country.
Annals of Saudi medicine 24(1):36-9. · 1.07 Impact Factor
