Pulmonary hypertension associated with sarcoidosis

Arthritis Res Ther. 2007;9 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S8. doi: 10.1186/ar2192.

Abstract

Pulmonary involvement is common in sarcoidosis, an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder that is characterized by non-caseating granulomas in tissue. Sarcoid patients with advanced pulmonary disease, especially end-stage pulmonary fibrosis, risk developing pulmonary hypertension (World Health Organization group III pulmonary hypertension secondary to hypoxic lung disease). Increased levels of endothelin (ET)-1 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage of some sarcoid patients suggest that ET-1 may be driving pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension. Although a relationship between raised levels of ET-1 and clinical phenotype is yet to be identified, early evidence from studies of ET-1 blockade with drugs such as bosentan is encouraging. Such therapy possibly could be combined with standard anti-inflammatory agents to improve outcome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / complications*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Endothelin / immunology
  • Sarcoidosis / complications
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnosis
  • Sarcoidosis / immunology
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / complications*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / immunology

Substances

  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, Endothelin