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Characteristics of sarcoidosis in Maori and Pacific Islanders
Author(s) -
Wilsher Margaret L.,
Young Lisa M.,
Hopkins Raewyn,
Cornere Megan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/resp.12917
Subject(s) - sarcoidosis , medicine , pacific islanders , erythema nodosum , ethnic group , stage (stratigraphy) , population , lung , presentation (obstetrics) , dermatology , disease , surgery , paleontology , environmental health , sociology , anthropology , biology
Background and objective Ethnicity is strongly associated with variable clinical presentation in sarcoidosis but the association between ethnicity and clinical characteristics has not previously been described in patients of Polynesian ancestry, Maori and Pacific Islander ( PI ). The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis in Maori and PI patients and determine if those were different to European patients. Methods A retrospective review of the medical records of 406 patients (69 Maori/ PI ) attending a specialist interstitial lung disease ( ILD ) clinic. Results The population (207 females, mean age at presentation: 36) reflected the current New Zealand census data (2013) with only people of Indian ethnicity over‐represented. Parenchymal lung involvement was uncommon in Maori and PI patients (21% Scadding stage 2, 2% stage 3), and no patient had extensive pulmonary fibrosis (stage 4). Computed tomography ( CT ) patterns of sarcoid parenchymal lung involvement were less commonly reported for Maori/ PI . There were no differences in respect of baseline lung function or requirement for treatment. Ocular and skin involvement occurred more frequently in Maori and PI ( P = 0.0045, P = 0.03), and erythema nodosum was more common in Caucasians ( P = 0.0008). Conclusion People of Polynesian ancestry appear to have less pulmonary and more extra‐pulmonary manifestations of sarcoidosis. This adds to our knowledge that sarcoidosis heterogeneity is influenced by ethnicity.