Sarcoidosis in the United States Military Health System.

Rationale: Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disorder of unclear etiology with historical significance in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Objectives: This study sought to characterize the sarcoidosis population within the DoD Military Health System (MHS). Methods: Adult patients with sarcoidosis were identified in the DoD MHS database from 01-JAN-2004 through 31-DEC-2013. Patients required ≥3 encounters with a sarcoidosis diagnosis and continuous MHS eligibility. Index was defined as date of first sarcoidosis encounter. Comorbidities were assessed within the pre-index and follow-up periods. Additionally, a subset of sarcoidosis patients was identified as having conditions that can be associated with cardiac sarcoidosis. Measurements and Main Results: The final sarcoidosis cohort was 9,908 patients, 57% female, and had a mean (SD) age of 53.1 (13.6) years. The region with the largest population was the east coast (45.6%). The top 5 pre-index comorbidities were hypertension (51.7%), fatigue (27.0%), anemia (21.4%), diabetes, type II (19.6%), and coronary heart disease (16.5%). Prevalence of the following conditions increased ≥2-fold from pre-index to follow-up: leukocytopenia, pulmonary hypertension, chronic kidney disease, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcemia, venous thromboembolism, congestive heart failure, seizure disorder, stroke/TIA, hypercalciuria, and arthritis. Of the sarcoidosis cohort, 21.8% (n=2,164) were identified as having cardiac conditions that can be associated with cardiac sarcoidosis. The top conditions in this cohort were cardiac arrhythmia (75.6%), congestive heart failure (20.4%), and cardiomyopathy (13.6%). Conclusions: The MHS has a large population of sarcoidosis patients, of which 22% had cardiac conditions that can be associated with granulomatous inflammation of the heart. Prevalence of numerous comorbid conditions increased after sarcoidosis diagnosis. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018; 35: 261-267).

Methacholine challenge is insufficient to exclude bronchial hyper-responsiveness in a symptomatic military population.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial hyper-responsiveness in a military population has been evaluated by direct and indirect challenge methods. We hypothesized that negative methacholine challenge testing (MCT) was not sufficient to exclude significant bronchial hyper-responsiveness in a symptomatic military population with exertional dyspnea. The purpose of our study was to identify bronchial hyper-responsiveness in symptomatic military recruits and active duty personnel with normal baseline spirometry and negative pharmacologic bronchoprovocation testing. METHODS: We performed a retrospective single center electronic chart review of symptomatic service members with a negative MCT who completed a subsequent exercise challenge test (ECT). RESULTS: ECT was positive in 45 (26.4%) of 171 subjects (98 recruits). Subjects with a positive ECT had lower baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC than those with a negative ECT, and these differences were statistically significant. The mean drop in FEV1 with exercise challenge positive patients was 17.9 ± 9.2%, and the mean drop in FEV1 with MCT was significantly greater in exercise challenge positive patients (-9.5 ± 5.5 vs. -7.6 ± 5.5, p = 0.042). Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) was observed in 41% of all recruits who subsequently did not complete training. Only 1 recruit subject of 28 with EIB completed training. CONCLUSIONS: Methacholine challenge is an insufficient screening test to detect bronchial hyper-responsiveness in a symptomatic military population. In military recruits, EIB is associated with training failure.

Bronchial carcinoid imaged with cardiac gated, 128-slice, dual-source, flash CT scanner to direct operative management.

Carcinoid is a rare lung cancer that typically presents with a relatively indolent clinical behavior. We present the case of a 32-year-old male with progressive respiratory symptoms, which resulted in the diagnosis of typical bronchial carcinoid. This case shows a novel imaging technique for staging a bronchial carcinoid for determination of optimal management. This case also shows the multidisciplinary approach required for management of patients with carcinoid tumors.