Epidemiological characterization of patients with sarcoidosis in a high complexity hospital in southwestern Colombia

Introduction Epidemiological studies on sarcoidosis in Colombia are scarce, and although recent reports from the north of the country have been published, clinical-epidemiological associations are not clear. Our aim was to characterize patients with sarcoidosis diagnosed at Fundación Valle del Lili in Cali, Colombia. Methods A retrospective study of a series of sarcoidosis cases was conducted between 2011 and 2019. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, histopathological, and treatment variables were analyzed. Results A total of 34 patients with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis were found. The majority were women (n=25; 73%), and the mean age was 50 years. The main symptoms of onset were erythema nodosum (n=11; 33%), arthritis (n=10; 30%), and cough (n=9; 27%). In 64% of the cases, there was pulmonary involvement, with pulmonary nodules, mediastinal adenopathy, and interstitial lung disease found in 54%, 50%, and 36% of cases, respectively. In 85% of cases, there were extrapulmonary manifestations, mainly cutaneous (50%). Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was elevated in 62% of the cases in which it was measured (n=16; 47%). During the diagnostic process, 23 biopsies were performed, of which 95% showed granulomas with noncaseating necrosis. Most of the patients (76%) were controlled with prednisolone, at an average dose of 20mg (7.5–50mg) per day. Conclusions Sarcoidosis was more frequent in women and mestizos, and it presented earlier in men. Elevated ACE was not associated with extrapulmonary involvement. Calcium-phosphorus profile and antinuclear antibodies were not useful to establish the diagnosis.