Is Lymphopenia Detected in Sarcoidosis Associated with the Disease Activity?

Objective: The association of lymphopenia detected in patients with sarcoidosis with disease activity was investigated in the present study. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed as having sarcoidosis and healthy volunteers/individuals with no diagnosis of active disease between July 2016 and June 2017 were included in this study. Patients who were detected to have an absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) of <1.3 × 10?/mm? were accepted as lymphopenic patients. The detection rates of lymphopenia were compared between two groups. The respiratory function testing-diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (RFT-DLCO) levels and the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) results of patients with and without lymphopenia in the sarcoidosis group were compared. Results: In the sarcoidosis group, 77 patients were included, and in the control group, 41 patients were included. The number of lymphopenic patients in the sarcoidosis group was 21 (27.2%), and that in the control group was 1 (2.4%) (p=0.001). The percentaged DLCO value of 33 patients (28%) was below 80%; however, the percentaged DLCO value of 44 patients was higher than 80% in the sarcoidosis group. The mean ALC of patients in the sarcoidosis group who had a DLCO value of <80% was 1.6±0.7; however, the mean ALC of patients who had a DLCO value of >80% was 2±0.7 (p=0.016). A positive correlation was detected between ALC and DLCO% (p=0.044, r=0.230). Although lymphopenia was detected in 42% of patients whose DLCO value was <80%, lymphopenia was detected in 15% of patients whose DLCO value was >80% (p=0.01). No significant association was detected among the sarcoidosis stage, symptom, and radiologic findings of the patients with the absolute lymphocyte count (p>0.05). Conclusion: Lymphopenia is frequently detected in patients with sarcoidosis. Lower DLCO values may be detected in patients with lymphopenic sarcoidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]