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PURPOSE: This study aims to explore the potential subgroups of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis (SAU) within a multicenter cohort of uveitis participants. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 826 uveitis patients from a uveitis registry from 19 clinical centers in 12 countries between January 2011 and April 2015. METHODS: We employed a latent class analysis (LCA) incorporating recommended tests and clinical signs from the revised International Workshop on Ocular Sarcoidosis (IWOS) to identify potential SAU subgroups within the multicenter uveitis cohort. Additionally, we assessed the performance of the individual tests and clinical signs in classifying the potential subclasses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Latent subtypes of SAU. RESULTS: Among 826 participants included in this analysis, the 2-class LCA model provided a best fit, with the lowest Bayesian information criteria of 7218.7 and an entropy of 0.715. One class, consisting of 548 participants, represented the non-SAU, whereas the second class, comprised of 278 participants, was most representative of SAU. Snowballs/string of pearls vitreous opacities had the best test performance for classification, followed by bilaterality and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL). The combination of 4 tests with the highest classification importance, including snowballs/string of pearls vitreous opacities, periphlebitis and/or macroaneurysm, bilaterality, and BHL, demonstrated a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 95.4% in classifying the SAU subtypes. In the exploratory analysis of the 3-class LCA model, which had comparable fit indices as the 2-class model, we identified a candidate non-SAU subtype, candidate SAU subtype with pulmonary involvement, and a candidate SAU with less pulmonary involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Latent class modeling, incorporating tests and clinical signs from the revised IWOS criteria, effectively identified a subset of participants with clinical features indicative of SAU. Though the sensitivity of individual ocular signs or tests was not perfect, using a combination of tests provided a satisfactory performance in classifying the SAU subclasses identified by the 2-class LCA model. Notably, the classes identified by the 3-class LCA model, including a non-SAU subtype, an SAU subtype with pulmonary involvement, and an SAU subtype with less pulmonary involvement, may have potential implication for clinical practice, and hence should be validated in further research. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Background: The internet is a common source of health information for patients and caregivers. To date, content and information quality of YouTube videos on sarcoidosis has not been studied. The aim of our study was to investigate the content and quality of information on sarcoidosis provided by YouTube videos. Methods: Of the first 200 results under the search term "sarcoidosis," all English-language videos with content directed at patients were included. Two independent investigators assessed the content of the videos based on 25 predefined key features (content score with 0–25 points), as well as reliability and quality (HONCode score with 0–8 points, DISCERN score with 1–5 points). Misinformation contained in the videos was described qualitatively. Results: The majority of the 85 included videos were from an academic or governmental source (n = 63, 74%), and median time since upload was 33 months (IQR 10–55). Median video duration was 8 min (IQR 3–13) and had a median of 2,044 views (IQR 504 − 13,203). Quality assessment suggested partially sufficient information: mean HONCode score was 4.4 (SD 0.9) with 91% of videos having a medium quality HONCode evaluation. Mean DISCERN score was 2.3 (SD 0.5). Video content was generally poor with a mean of 10.5 points (SD 0.6). Frequently absent key features included information on the course of disease (6%), presence of substantial geographical variation (7%), and importance of screening for extrapulmonary manifestations (11%). HONCode scores were higher in videos from academic or governmental sources (p = 0.003), particularly regarding "transparency of sponsorship" (p < 0.001). DISCERN and content scores did not differ by video category. Conclusions: Most YouTube videos present incomplete information reflected in a poor content score, especially regarding screening for extrapulmonary manifestations. Quality was partially sufficient with higher scores in videos from academic or governmental sources, but often missing references and citing specific evidence. Improving patient access to trustworthy and up to date information is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan granulomatous disease that lacks diagnostic biomarkers and targeted treatments. Using blood and skin from patients with sarcoid and non-sarcoid skin granulomas, we discovered that skin granulomas from different diseases exhibit unique immune cell recruitment and molecular signatures. Sarcoid skin granulomas were specifically enriched for type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) and B cells and exhibited molecular programs associated with formation of mature tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), including increased CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling. Lung sarcoidosis granulomas also displayed similar immune cell recruitment. Thus, granuloma formation was not a generic molecular response. In addition to tissue-specific effects, patients with sarcoidosis exhibited an 8-fold increase in circulating ILC1s, which correlated with treatment status. Multiple immune cell types induced CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in sarcoidosis, including Th1 T cells, macrophages, and ILCs. Mechanistically, CXCR4 inhibition reduced sarcoidosis-activated immune cell migration, and targeting CXCR4 or total ILCs attenuated granuloma formation in a noninfectious mouse model. Taken together, our results show that ILC1s are a tissue and circulating biomarker that distinguishes sarcoidosis from other skin granulomatous diseases. Repurposing existing CXCR4 inhibitors may offer a new targeted treatment for this devastating disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case of a hard lobulated submucosal nodule on the lower lip, which was diagnosed as oral sarcoidosis. The patient presented with a swelling in the lower lip and a family history of cancer. The clinical examination revealed an isolated submucosal nodule with poorly delimited margins and a hardened texture. The diagnosis was confirmed through an incisional biopsy, which revealed multiple granulomas with a sarcoid pattern. The article emphasizes the importance of considering sarcoidosis as a differential diagnosis for oral lesions and highlights the variable clinical presentation of the disease. The treatment for sarcoidosis typically involves systemic corticosteroids, surgical excision, or expectant management. In this case, the oral lesion was completely removed, and the patient was followed up regularly with no signs of recurrence or systemic symptoms. [Extracted from the article]

Beryllium is used widely in industry due to its favourable elemental properties. Its extraction and subsequent incorporation into alloys and composites generate hazardous fumes and dust. Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is an occupational interstitial lung disease that clinically resembles sarcoidosis. We present a case of a 33-year-old jeweller who developed CBD from exposure to dust while grinding unfinished gemstones. While workplace protection exists for beryllium workers, the health risks in artisans are unrecognised. Most cases are diagnosed in industries primarily involved in the use of beryllium (Table I); however, in our case the exposure to beryllium was unexpected. Lymphocyte proliferation testing for beryllium is a key investigation in patients with suspected CBD. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of CBD diagnosed in a jeweller in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 60-year-old man presented to an outside ophthalmology clinic with 1 month of progressive vision loss in the right eye (OD). Right optic disc edema was noted. Brain and orbit magnetic resonance imaging revealed right optic nerve and left occipital lobe enhancement. He was seen initially by neurology and neurosurgery and subsequently referred to neuro-ophthalmology for consideration of optic nerve biopsy. He was seen 3 months after his initial symptom onset where vision was light perception OD and a relative afferent pupillary defect with optic nerve edema. OS was unremarkable. A lumbar puncture with flow cytometry was negative for multiple sclerosis and lymphoma. At his oculoplastic evaluation for optic nerve biopsy, his vision was noted to be no light perception OD. Optic nerve biopsy demonstrated non-caseating granulomatous inflammation consistent with neurosarcoidosis. The patient was started on high-dose oral steroids with improvement of disc edema, as well as significant improvement in optic nerve and intracranial parenchymal enhancement, although his vision never improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Granulomatous myositis is a severe and difficult to treat disease in which distal motor deficit and clinical amyotrophy seem to be predictive factors for evolution towards severe disability. • A significant proportion of granulomatous myositis cases exhibit clinical or pathological features consistent with inclusion body myositis. • Granulomatous myositis with significant initial hypercalcemia typically show favorable progression with corticosteroid therapy. Granulomatous myositis is a clinical-pathological entity, which has been rarely reported, mostly described in sarcoidosis. Currently, no clear and simple prognostic factor has been identified to predict granulomatous myositis evolution. The clinical, anatomopathological, imaging, and biological characteristics of 26 patients with granulomatous myositis were retrospectively collected to describe clinical presentation and outcomes of this condition. Twenty-six patients with granulomatous myositis were included (14 males) with a median age of symptom onset of 65 years. 54 % of patients presented a severe form of the disease defined as a Rankin score ≥2 at last follow-up visit or a progressive form of the disease (no improvement under treatment). Etiology were sarcoidosis (n = 14), inclusion body myositis (n = 4), autoimmune disease (n = 1), hematological malignancy (n = 1), and idiopathic (n = 6). Distal deficit and amyotrophy were more frequent among those with a severe disease. Corticosteroids led to improvement in 75 % of cases, but 66 % of responders relapsed. Methotrexate appeared as a promising second line therapy with clinical improvement in 50 % of patients, and no relapse in responders. Granulomatous myositis is often a severe and difficult-to-treat disease in which patients frequently progress towards severe disability. The presence of muscle atrophy and distal weakness appears to be frequently associated with a severe form of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 74-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and peripheral artery disease and a reported diagnosis of sarcoidosis presents for an episode of syncope and shortness of breath. She had a history of sarcoidosis diagnosed on chest radiography that showed lymphadenopathy. There were no associated symptoms, and she was not previously treated for sarcoidosis. She previously smoked and had quit smoking 9 years earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]