Management of cardiac sarcoidosis.

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a form of inflammatory cardiomyopathy associated with significant clinical complications such as high-degree atrioventricular block, ventricular tachycardia, and heart failure as well as sudden cardiac death. It is therefore important to provide an expert consensus statement summarizing the role of different available diagnostic tools and emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. By integrating clinical information and the results of diagnostic tests, an accurate, validated, and timely diagnosis can be made, while alternative diagnoses can be reasonably excluded. This clinical expert consensus statement reviews the evidence on the management of different CS manifestations and provides advice to practicing clinicians in the field on the role of immunosuppression and the treatment of cardiac complications based on limited published data and the experience of international CS experts. The monitoring and risk stratification of patients with CS is also covered, while controversies and future research needs are explored.

Cardiac sarcoidosis and neurosarcoidosis - multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current review aims to highlight the role of multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis of patients with cardiac and neurosarcoidosis. Multidisciplinary approach integrates the available clinical information, imaging and histopathological results aiming to reach a definite or at least provisional diagnosis and allow appropriate management. Multidisciplinary approach is the reference standard for diagnosis of interstitial lung disease and should be strongly considered in complex clinical conditions such as cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and neurosarcoidosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Histopathological confirmation of noncaseating granulomatous inflammation provides a definite diagnosis of sarcoidosis involving any organ. However, a provisional high confidence or even definite clinical diagnosis can be reached using multidisciplinary evaluation of all available evidence. The diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis and neurosarcoidosis requires the integration of different expertise based on the current diagnostic criteria sets. Identifying typical or at least compatible patterns on advanced imaging modalities (CMR and Fluro-Deoxy-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET)) seems key for the diagnosis of CS, while a confident diagnosis of extra-cardiac disease supports an at least provisional diagnosis. Similarly, in neurosarcoidosis integrating compatible MRI appearances and cerebrospinal fluid results in patients with systemic sarcoidosis allows an at least provisional diagnosis. Exclusion of alternative differential diagnoses is crucial and requires high clinical suspicion, imaging review expertise and appropriate tests performance. SUMMARY: There have been considerable advances in the diagnostic approach of patients with cardiac and neurosarcoidosis. Multidisciplinary approach for both diagnosis and management is required to reach a confident clinical diagnosis and should be applied when possible.

Characterisation and management of expected and unexpected urgent findings from positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose integrated with computed tomography in cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET-CT plays an important role in the assessment of cardiovascular diseases. Effective management of urgent scan findings facilitates optimal patient care. METHODS: We characterised the management of urgent, expected and unexpected findings in patients referred for cardiac [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose integrated with computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) at the Royal Brompton Hospital (United Kingdom). Urgent findings are escalated by the reporting physicians/radiologists raising RadAlert notifications to the referring clinician. We characterised the indications and time to management (TTM) between the RadAlert and the resulting management. As controls, we characterised the TTM of 33 urgent findings identified before the RadAlert system was implemented. RESULTS: Of the 1497 consecutive FDG-PET-CT scans screened (April 2021 to February 2023), 93 RadAlerts were suitable for analysis (TTM 7 days [interquartile range: 2-14]). Expected urgent findings included active cardiac sarcoidosis (56%; TTM 8 days [5-18]), heart transplant rejection (12%; 6 ± 4 days), infective endocarditis (9%; 2 days [1-12]), cardiac device infections (5%; 1 day [0-2]), acute myocarditis (2%; 5 and 14 days) and epicardial mass (1%; 1 day). TTM did not differ significantly between indications (P = 0.06). RadAlert cases had significantly shorter TTM than controls without RadAlert, P = 0.001. After the RadAlerts, 81% of patients had clinical reviews, and 55% had escalation of medical/surgical therapies. Unexpected findings (total N = 45; median TTM 6 days [1-10]) included malignancies (N = 3), infections (N = 2), pneumothorax (N = 1), benign diagnosis (N = 30), unclear diagnosis (N = 5) and 4 findings disappeared on repeat imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac FDG-PET-CT identifies expected and unexpected findings in a range of cardiovascular diseases. Serious, unexpected findings are rare and can be effectively escalated by the RadAlert system.

Role of serial 18F-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in determining the therapeutic efficacy of immunosuppression and clinical outcome in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial inflammation and perfusion defects detected by 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG) and Rubidium-82 positron emission tomography (PET) may be associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). The role of serial quantitative PET in determining the effect of treatment on myocardial inflammation and clinical outcomes is yet to be defined. METHODS: Newly diagnosed CS patients with active myocardial inflammation (maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) ≥ 2.5) were treated with immunosuppression, then underwent repeat FDG-PET, Rubidium-82, and echocardiographic imaging 6-12 months later. Serial changes in SUVmax, SUVmean, inflammatory extent, perfusion defect (PD) extent, metabolism/perfusion mismatch extent, global cardiac metabolic activity, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were assessed. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, serious VA and heart-failure (HF) hospitalisation. Event data were recorded from the date of the second FDG-PET. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 113 patients (66% male, age: 55 ± 11 years, LVEF: 54 ± 13%). SUVmax reduced from 4.5 (interquartile range: 3.3-7.1) to 2.7 (2.2-3.6). Overall, 94 (83%) patients saw serial reduction in SUVmax, with 42 (37%) demonstrating complete response (SUVmax <2.5). Following a median of 46 (25-57) months, 28 (25%) patients reached the endpoint (8 deaths, 17 VAs, and 3 HF hospitalisations). PD extent (Hazard ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.05; p = 0.035) was a significant predictor of outcome following treatment, even after accounting for LVEF and change in SUVmean. The risk of adverse events was the greatest in those with a pre-treatment or post-treatment PD extent of >10%. CONCLUSION: In our cohort with active CS, following a treatment-induced reduction in myocardial inflammation, PD extent was the main predictor of adverse events.

Antibody predictors of mortality and lung function trends in myositis spectrum interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of autoantibody profiles on prognosis of idiopathic inflammatory myositis associated interstitial lung disease (IIM-ILD) and myositis spectrum ILD with Myositis Specific Antibodies (MSA) remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study examines whether serological profiles are associated with mortality and longitudinal lung function change. METHODS: Baseline clinical/demographic characteristics and follow-up lung function of consecutive adult patients with IIM-ILD or Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features (IPAF) positive for MSAs were extracted from three hospitals. Univariate and multi-variate Cox-Proportional Hazards analyses were used to compare mortality between autoantibodies. Regression models were used to analyse lung function trends. RESULTS: Of 430 included patients, 81% met IIM criteria, 19% were IPAF-MSA. On univariate analysis, risk factors associated with mortality included higher age, Charlson Co-morbidity Index and CRP; and lower BMI, baseline TLCO% and FEV1%. Compared to anti-MDA5-negativity, anti-MDA5-positivity (MDA5+) was associated with high mortality in the first 3 months (HR 65.2. 95%CI 14.1, 302.0), while no significant difference was seen thereafter (HR 0.55, 95%CI 0.14, 2.28). On multi-variate analysis, combined anti-synthetase antibodies carried a reduced risk of mortality (HR 0.63), although individually, mortality was reduced in anti-Jo1 + (HR 0.61, 95%CI 0.4-0.87) and increased in anti-PL7+ patients (HR 2.07, 95%CI 1.44-2.99). Anti-MDA5+ was associated with slow improvement in %FVC over the first 3 years, while anti-PL7+ was linked with a slow decline from 12 months onwards. CONCLUSIONS: Among autoantibody profiles in myositis spectrum disorders, anti-MDA5+ and anti-PL7+ confer higher mortality risks. Survivors of an early peak of mortality in anti-MDA5+ disease appear to have a favourable prognosis.

The role of primary care in sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current review aims to highlight the role of primary care physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with sarcoidosis. Increased awareness of the clinical and imaging manifestations of the disease as well as the natural disease course will help for earlier and more accurate diagnosis as well as detection of high-risk patients who would benefit from treatment introduction. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent guidelines have attempted to deal with the confusion related to treatment indications, duration and monitoring of treatment in patients with sarcoidosis. Nonetheless, important points require further clarification. Primary care physicians may be the first to confront disease exacerbation, deterioration despite treatment and/or treatment-induced side effects. Furthermore, they are the physicians that remain closer to the patient providing a significant amount of information, psychological support and assessment for sarcoidosis-specific or not issues. The treatment strategy for each organ is complex, but the principles of treatment have been explored. SUMMARY: There have been considerable advances in the diagnostic and management approach of patients with sarcoidosis. Multidisciplinary approach for both diagnosis and management seems optimal. Validating risk stratification strategies and standardizing the monitoring process is appropriate for the future.

A rare case of extensive biventricular cardiac sarcoidosis with reversible torrential tricuspid regurgitation.

Reversal of torrential tricuspid regurgitation is rarely seen. We describe a case in which effective immunosuppression alongside conventional heart failure therapies lead to reversibility of torrential tricuspid regurgitation in a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis. We also discuss the diagnostic challenge in distinguishing cardiac sarcoidosis from other myocardial diseases in a patient presenting with biventricular failure.

Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor treatment and survival in interstitial lung disease pulmonary hypertension: A Bayesian retrospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary hypertension is a life-limiting complication of interstitial lung disease (ILD-PH). We investigated whether treatment with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) in patients with ILD-PH was associated with improved survival. METHODS: Consecutive incident patients with ILD-PH and right heart catheterisation, echocardiography and spirometry data were followed from diagnosis to death, transplantation or censoring with all follow-up and survival data modelled by Bayesian methods. RESULTS: The diagnoses in 128 patients were idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n = 74, 58%), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n = 17, 13%), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (n = 12, 9%), undifferentiated ILD (n = 8, 6%) and other lung diseases (n = 17, 13%). Final outcomes were death (n = 106, 83%), transplantation (n = 9, 7%) and censoring (n = 13, 10%). Patients treated with PDE5i (n = 50, 39%) had higher mean pulmonary artery pressure (median 38 mm Hg [interquartile range, IQR: 34, 43] vs. 35 mm Hg [IQR: 31, 38], p = 0.07) and percentage predicted forced vital capacity (FVC; median 57% [IQR: 51, 73] vs. 52% [IQR: 45, 66], p=0.08) though differences did not reach significance. Patients treated with PDE5i survived longer than untreated patients (median 2.18 years [95% CI: 1.43, 3.04] vs. 0.94 years [0.69, 1.51], p = 0.003) independent of all other prognostic markers by Bayesian joint-modelling (HR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.59, p < 0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (HR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.58, p < 0.001). Survival difference with treatment was significantly larger if right ventricular function was normal, rather than abnormal, at presentation (+2.55 years, 95% CI: -0.03, +3.97 vs. +0.98 years, 95% CI: +0.47, +2.00, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: PDE5i treatment in ILD-PH should be investigated by a prospective randomized trial.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis in systemic sclerosis: prevalence and prognostic impact.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, mostly presenting as non-specific interstitial pneumonia. Little is known about the prevalence of pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE), a specific entity affecting the visceral pleura and subpleural parenchyma. We set out to estimate PPFE prevalence in two large cohorts of SSc patients and to assess its impact on survival and functional decline.A total of 359 SSc patients, derived from two referral centres in two different countries (UK and Italy), were included. The first available high-resolution computed tomography scan was independently evaluated by two radiologists blind to clinical information, to quantify ILD extent, freestanding bronchial abnormalities, and lobar percentage involvement of PPFE on a four-point categorical scale. Discordant scores were adjudicated by a third scorer. PPFE extent was further classified as limited (≤2/18) or extensive (>2/18). Results were evaluated against functional decline and mortality.The overall prevalence of PPFE in the combined SSc population was 18% (11% with extensive PPFE), with no substantial difference between the two cohorts. PPFE was significantly linked to free-standing bronchial abnormalities (61% versus 25% in PPFE versus no PPFE; p<0.0001) and to worse survival, independently of ILD severity or short-term lung function changes (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.10-3.25; p=0.005).In the current study, we provide an exhaustive description of PPFE prevalence and clinical impact in the largest cohort of SSc subjects published so far. PPFE presence should be carefully considered, due to its significant prognostic implications.

Treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In sarcoidosis, the appropriate management strategy remains challenging especially because of the lack of confident diagnosis, considerable variability in initial presentation, disease evolution, and outcome. Although asymptomatic patients with limited cardiac involvement have been described to have a benign outcome, cardiac sarcoidosis is associated with high morbidity and mortality and even sudden cardiac death in a significant proportion of patients. Higher morbidity and mortality can be related with both the disease activity and extent of fibrosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Historical series suggested a 5-year mortality rate of 60% in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. This has definitely improved with the appropriate use of anti-inflammatory medications as well as heart failure treatment, antiarrhythmic medication and device implantation. Timely recognition and vigorous initial approach is essential in avoiding life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Advanced imaging modalities have proven to be helpful in the diagnostic approach and guiding treatment decisions. However, there is no optimal screening and risk stratification strategy available and further studies are required to determine, which patients would benefit from the available treatments. SUMMARY: This review concentrates on the broad principles of management in cardiac sarcoidosis and the efficacy of sarcoidosis-specific medication and cardiac-specific therapies for cardiac dysfunction and rhythm disturbances.

Why do people die from pulmonary sarcoidosis?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In sarcoidosis, the design and validation of an appropriate risk stratification strategy is hampered by the considerable variability in initial presentation, disease evolution, and outcome. Although spontaneous resolution of the disease is described in a large proportion of patients, approximately 20-30% would present with chronic or progressive lung disease that has been associated with morbidity and mortality. Higher morbidity and mortality can be related to both the disease severity and extent as well as its treatments. We review the utility of integration of clinical, pathological, and radiological features of pulmonary sarcoidosis to detect pulmonary sarcoidosis patient at risk of developing severe, fibrotic lung disease. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently published studies suggested a mortality rate of 11-14 per 1000 person-years. Demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and race may play a role but conflicting evidence are reported depending on the origin of the population. To date, there are no tools that can reliably predict the exact group of pulmonary sarcoidosis patients to progress to fibrosis. Imaging contributes significantly to the diagnosis and management of patients with sarcoidosis as it can provide useful information regarding the discrimination between reversible and irreversible disease, the extent of the parenchymal damage and the presence of possible complications. Symptoms and lung function tests are the rest of the key determinants and their change over time should be considered. SUMMARY: This review concentrates on the definition of advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis and determinants of mortality in the pulmonary sarcoidosis group of patients.

New treatment paradigms for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is frequently observed in connective tissue disease (CTD) and is a major cause of mortality. In CTD-ILD, a marked variability in morphological patterns, time course and severity exists. In many patients, CTD-ILD is limited and inherently stable, although a significant proportion of patients have progressive disease. We review the utility of integration of the recently proposed disease behavior classification into the management of CTD-ILD, and recent advances in treatment approaches. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies on scleroderma-ILD (SSc-ILD) staging and short-term lung function trends provide important information, although accurate prognostic markers, particularly in limited/early CTD-ILD, are still needed. Most patients with progressive CTD-ILD stabilize on immunosuppression, as observed in recent SSc-ILD trials and CTD-ILD retrospective series. A minority of patients present with life-threatening acute/subacute ILD, requiring intense immunosuppression, with limited available guidance. A significant minority of CTD-ILD patients have progressive disease despite immunosuppression. Ongoing trials with antifibrotic agents and with biologic agents may reveal a potential role for their use/addition. SUMMARY: Ultimately, further research into the mechanisms linking autoimmunity to fibrosis and randomized controlled clinical trials are needed, with the aim of preventing irreversible damage of lung tissue, while minimizing burden of treatment.

Global longitudinal strain and long-term outcomes in asymptomatic extracardiac sarcoid patients with no apparent cardiovascular disease.

PURPOSE: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is increasingly accepted as a predictor of mortality in various clinical settings. This study tested the hypothesis that GLS is associated with increased event rate in patients with extracardiac sarcoidosis, who have no overt symptoms of cardiovascular disease and preserved ejection fraction (EF). METHODS: We retrospectively studied 117 patients with extracardiac sarcoidosis and 45 age- and sex-matched controls, who underwent comprehensive echocardiographic study, while GLS was measured by an offline speckle tracking algorithm. Patients who had signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease at the time of the examination were excluded from the study. Patients were followed for an average of 57.1 months. Primary endpoint was defined as a composite endpoint of heart failure-related hospitalizations, need for device therapy, arrhythmias, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The age of patients was 42 ± 6 years old (43 men). Events were recorded in 10 patients (8.5%). Tissue Doppler revealed E/Em 7.9 ± 3.5, while EF was 54.2 ± 3.5%. Global longitudinal strain was 14.4 ± 3%, and a cutoff value ≤-13.6% for GLS was considered more associated with adverse outcomes (AUC 0.84). After adjustment for multiple potential confounders (age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, E/Em, and EF), GLS remained strongly associated with adverse outcomes (HR 0.8, 0.63 to 0.98 95% C.I, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, among patients with extracardiac sarcoidosis and no symptoms of cardiovascular disease, even when EF is preserved, GLS seems to be strongly associated with adverse future events.

Diagnostic accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: an international case-cohort study.

We conducted an international study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis among a large group of physicians and compared their diagnostic performance to a panel of IPF experts.A total of 1141 respiratory physicians and 34 IPF experts participated. Participants evaluated 60 cases of interstitial lung disease (ILD) without interdisciplinary consultation. Diagnostic agreement was measured using the weighted kappa coefficient (κw). Prognostic discrimination between IPF and other ILDs was used to validate diagnostic accuracy for first-choice diagnoses of IPF and were compared using the C-index.A total of 404 physicians completed the study. Agreement for IPF diagnosis was higher among expert physicians (κw=0.65, IQR 0.53-0.72, p<0.0001) than academic physicians (κw=0.56, IQR 0.45-0.65, p<0.0001) or physicians with access to multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings (κw=0.54, IQR 0.45-0.64, p<0.0001). The prognostic accuracy of academic physicians with >20 years of experience (C-index=0.72, IQR 0.0-0.73, p=0.229) and non-university hospital physicians with more than 20 years of experience, attending weekly MDT meetings (C-index=0.72, IQR 0.70-0.72, p=0.052), did not differ significantly (p=0.229 and p=0.052 respectively) from the expert panel (C-index=0.74 IQR 0.72-0.75).Experienced respiratory physicians at university-based institutions diagnose IPF with similar prognostic accuracy to IPF experts. Regular MDT meeting attendance improves the prognostic accuracy of experienced non-university practitioners to levels achieved by IPF experts.

Evaluation of visual and computer-based CT analysis for the identification of functional patterns of obstruction and restriction in hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine whether computer-based quantification (CALIPER software) is superior to visual computed tomography (CT) scoring in the identification of CT patterns indicative of restrictive and obstructive functional indices in hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). METHODS: A total of 135 consecutive HP patients had CT parenchymal patterns evaluated quantitatively by both visual scoring and CALIPER. Results were evaluated against: forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO ) and a composite physiological index (CPI) to identify which CT scoring method better correlated with functional indices. RESULTS: CALIPER-derived scores of total interstitial lung disease extent correlated more strongly than visual scores: FVC (CALIPER R = 0.73, visual R = 0.51); DLCO (CALIPER R = 0.61, visual R = 0.48); and CPI (CALIPER R = 0·70, visual R = 0·55). The CT variable that correlated most strongly with restrictive functional indices was CALIPER pulmonary vessel volume (PVV): FVC R = 0.75, DLCO R = 0.68 and CPI R = 0.76. Ground-glass opacity quantified by CALIPER alone demonstrated strong associations with restrictive functional indices: CALIPER FVC R = 0.65; DLCO R = 0.59; CPI R = 0.64; and visual = not significant. Decreased attenuation lung quantified by CALIPER was a better morphological measure of obstructive lung disease than equivalent visual scores as judged by relationships with TLC (CALIPER R = 0.63 and visual R = 0.12). All results were maintained on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: CALIPER improved on visual scoring in HP as judged by restrictive and obstructive functional correlations. Decreased attenuation regions of the lung quantified by CALIPER demonstrated better linkages to obstructive lung physiology than visually quantified CT scores. A novel CALIPER variable, the PVV, demonstrated the strongest linkages with restrictive functional indices and could represent a new automated index of disease severity in HP.

Monitoring of Sarcoidosis.

This article focuses on the monitoring of pulmonary sarcoidosis. The monitoring of sarcoidosis is, in part, focused on serial change in major organ involvement but also includes diagnostic re-evaluation and review of change in quality of life. Recent criteria for progression of fibrotic interstitial lung disease are adapted to pulmonary sarcoidosis. The frequency and nature of monitoring are discussed, integrating baseline risk stratification and strategic treatment goals. Individual variables used to identify changes in pulmonary disease severity are discussed with a focus on their flaws and the need for a multidimensional approach. Other key monitoring issues are covered briefly.

Sarcoidosis Associated Pulmonary Hypertension.

In patients with sarcoidosis, the development of pulmonary hypertension is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The global prevalence of sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) reportedly ranges between 2.9% and 20% of sarcoidosis patients. Multiple factors may contribute to the development of SAPH, including advanced parenchymal lung disease, severe systolic and/or diastolic left ventricular dysfunction, veno-occlusive or thromboembolic disease, as well as extrinsic factors such as pulmonary vascular compression from enlarged lymph nodes, anemia, and liver disease. Early diagnosis of SAPH is important but rarely achieved primarily due to insufficiently accurate screening strategies, which rely entirely on non-invasive tests and clinical assessment. The definitive diagnosis of SAPH requires right heart catheterization (RHC), with transthoracic echocardiography as the recommended gatekeeper to RHC according to current guidelines. A 6-min walk test (6MWT) had the greatest prognostic value in SAPH patients based on recent registry outcomes, while advanced lung disease determined using a reduced DLCO (<35% predicted) was associated with reduced transplant-free survival in pre-capillary SAPH. Clinical management involves the identification and treatment of the underlying mechanism. Pulmonary vasodilators are useful in several scenarios, especially when a pulmonary vascular phenotype predominates. End-stage SAPH may warrant consideration for lung transplantation, which remains a high-risk option. Multi-centered randomized controlled trials are required to develop existing therapies further and improve the prognosis of SAPH patients.

High-resolution CT phenotypes in pulmonary sarcoidosis: a multinational Delphi consensus study.

One view of sarcoidosis is that the term covers many different diseases. However, no classification framework exists for the future exploration of pathogenetic pathways, genetic or trigger predilections, patterns of lung function impairment, or treatment separations, or for the development of diagnostic algorithms or relevant outcome measures. We aimed to establish agreement on high-resolution CT (HRCT) phenotypic separations in sarcoidosis to anchor future CT research through a multinational two-round Delphi consensus process. Delphi participants included members of the Fleischner Society and the World Association of Sarcoidosis and other Granulomatous Disorders, as well as members' nominees. 146 individuals (98 chest physicians, 48 thoracic radiologists) from 28 countries took part, 144 of whom completed both Delphi rounds. After rating of 35 Delphi statements on a five-point Likert scale, consensus was achieved for 22 (63%) statements. There was 97% agreement on the existence of distinct HRCT phenotypes, with seven HRCT phenotypes that were categorised by participants as non-fibrotic or likely to be fibrotic. The international consensus reached in this Delphi exercise justifies the formulation of a CT classification as a basis for the possible definition of separate diseases. Further refinement of phenotypes with rapidly achievable CT studies is now needed to underpin the development of a formal classification of sarcoidosis.