The Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of SAA in Intrathoracic Sarcoidosis

The Role of Serum Amyloid A in Clinical Decision-making Concerning Sarcoidosis Patients

The goal of this observational study is to elucidate the role of serum amyloid A (SAA) in the diagnosis and follow-up of sarcoidosis, including its prognostic value. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Whether, at the time of diagnosis, SAA is in correlation with other serum markers of granulomatous inflammation, interstitial disease and pulmonary fibrosis, lung function and radiologic characteristics of intrathoracic sarcoidosis,
• Whether increased serum concentrations of SAA at the time of diagnosis act as a prognostic marker of progressive granulomatous inflammation and pulmonary interstitial disease.

Patients will undergo standard diagnostic procedures for intrathoracic sarcoidosis, according to WASOG (World association of sarcoidosis and other granulomatous disorders) criteria. Two additional vials of blood will be taken at diagnosis and one vial at follow-up for serum processing and biomarker analysis.

Healthy blood donors will represent our group of healthy controls.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Above 18 years of age
• Enrolled immediately after the first diagnostic workup and before any treatment was initiated.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with granulomatous disease that could not be unequivocally diagnosed as sarcoidosis were excluded, as well as patients with possible confounding other known systemic inflammatory illnesses, acute infection, patients on immunosuppressive drugs or immunotherapy and patients with active cancer.