Sarcoidosis

Prospective randomized controlled trial comparing low dose Prednisone(or Prednisolone)/Methotrexate combination to standard dose Prednisone(or Prednisolone) in patients diagnosed with acute active clinically manifest cardiac sarcoidosis and not yet treated. The Investigators hypothesize that low dose Prednisone(or Prednisolone)/Methotrexate combination will be as effective as standard dose Prednisone(or Prednisolone), and result in significantly better quality of life and less toxicity than standard dose Prednisone(or Prednisolone).

We propose to acquire data and blood samples on all patients being cared for by the Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) program. Additionally, we will collect data and blood samples from a control group for comparator purposes. In doing so, we will be able to describe the "phenotypic" expression of these diseases.

Inflammatory Cardiovascular Diseases and Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (ICARDs) encompass cardiovascular involvement in connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, and primary inflammatory cardiac processes affecting all layers of the heart. ICARDs are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, independently of traditional risk factors, via multiple pathophysiological mechanisms. Diagnosis and prognosis are challenged by the heterogeneity of clinical presentations. Multimodality cardiovascular imaging - including cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), transthoracic echocardiography, and positron emission tomography (PET) - plays a central role in detecting and characterizing inflammatory involvement, and may offer prognostic insights. Given the limited data on the diagnostic and prognostic utility of these imaging modalities in ICARDs, the EACVI-INFLAME study aims to assess the prevalence of confirmed cardiovascular involvement in patients with suspected or established ICARDs undergoing CMR and/or cardiac PET in a multicentric international cohort.

Arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy (AVC) is a genetic condition which affects the heart and can lead to heart failure and rhythm problems, of which, sudden cardiac arrest or death is the most tragic and dangerous. Diagnosis and screening of blood-relatives is very difficult as the disease process can be subtle, but sufficient enough, so that the first event is sudden death. The Mayo Clinic AVC Registry is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA and Papworth Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK. The investigators aim to enroll patients with a history of AVC or sudden cardiac death which may be due to AVC, from the US and UK. Family members who are blood-relatives will also be invited, including those who do not have the condition. Data collected include symptoms, ECG, echocardiographic, MRI, Holter, loop recorder, biopsies, exercise stress testing, blood, buccal and saliva samples. Objectives of the study: 1. Discover new genes or altered genes (variants) which cause AVC 2. Identify biomarkers which predict (2a) disease onset, (2b) disease progression, (2c) and the likelihood of arrhythmia (ventricular, supra-ventricular and atrial fibrillation) 3. Correlate genotype with phenotype in confirmed cases of AVC followed longitudinally using clinical, electrocardiographic and imaging data. 4. Characterize desmosomal changes in buccal mucosal cells with genotype and validate with gold-standard endomyocardial biopsies

This research study is testing whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can help reduce fatigue in people with sarcoidosis. The study will also look at whether MBSR can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants will be placed into one of two groups: * One group will take part in an 8-week virtual MBSR program, attend weekly online sessions, keep a daily mindfulness journal, and complete surveys about fatigue, anxiety, and depression. * The other group will join a virtual support group once a month for 5 months and complete the same surveys. The goal is to see which approach is more helpful for improving fatigue and mental well-being in people with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition affecting many different parts of the body but most commonly the lungs. It is not known what causes sarcoidosis. In some patients no treatment is needed but in other patients long term treatment may be required. One of the main medications used to manage this condition is corticosteroids. This medication has been shown to be very effective at reducing inflammation in this condition and many patients often remain on it for months to years. Unfortunately, there are many negative long-term side effects of corticosteroid use. This includes an increased risk of developing diabetes, reduced bone density, weight gain, high blood pressure and low muscle mass. Currently there are no guidelines for how steroids should be weaned in patients who have stable sarcoidosis. The investigators aim to undertake a study at the Royal Brompton Hospital which will be assessing two different steroid tapering regimens which will be allocated to participants in a randomised manner. This will be the first study to directly evaluate different steroid weaning regimens in sarcoidosis patients. The main aim of this study is to determine how many participants can reduce their prednisolone dose to less than 50% from their baseline dose. Additionally, the investigators will be recording how many participants require an increase in dose or an additional medication whilst on the prednisolone weaning regimen. The investigators will also see the tolerability of steroid withdrawal and assess for any symptoms of steroid withdrawal. In a small subset of participants the investigators will assess for any changes in body composition and muscle strength using bioelectrical impedance analysis and isometric muscle testing.

There is no cure for the inflammatory disease sarcoidosis. Virtually any part of the body can be affected but most often the lungs and lymph nodes. Outcomes after diagnosis vary widely among sarcoidosis patients, with some experiencing resolving disease and others developing chronic disease and lung fibrosis. Cardiac sarcoidosis can lead to life threatening arrythmias and calcium metabolism disturbances can lead to renal impairment. Treatment with different forms of immunosuppressants are usually tried to dampen symptoms but are not effective in all patients. Furthermore, the disease usually flares up after cessation of treatment. The variability in diseae course and treatment response is thought, at least to some degree, to be explained by individual differences in genetics, immune cells and signaling pathways. But existing evidence is limited. In other inflammatory diseases the gut microbiome is of importance for disease course but its role in sarcoidosis has not been clarified. In this prospective project the investigators will study genes, inflammatory cells and signaling molecules in the lung, upper airways and blood, and to some extent microbes, also in faeces. Healthy volunteers will be included for comparative studies. Most samples will be taken during normal diagnostic work-up and follow-up of patients with/with suspected sarcoidosis. The findings will be correlated to disease course and effects of different treatments. By linking to national health data and demographic registries, comorbidities and environmental factors will be correlated to data. By this, the investigators hope to improve understanding of which genes, cells and signaling molecules that are of importance for resolving vs non-resolving disease and why some patients respond to a certain treatment and others don´t. The overall goal is to assess and predict sarcoidosis outcomes. We hypothesize that blood-based biomarkers including those taken during routine care as well as novel cell, signaling molecules and genetic markers, in combination with clinical characteristics can be used to predict outcomes, also treatment response, in sarcoidosis. The results can lead to tailored treatment and individual follow-up for each patient with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by unspecific granuloma formation. Our hypothesis is that granuloma formation and maintenance mainly relies on the overactivation of monocytes (Mo) and macrophages (Ma). To this end, the study aims (i) to define MoMa systemic signature in sarcoidosis, (ii) to characterize this signature in situ on tissue samples, and (iii) to identify causative factors that participate to the MoMa chronic overactivation. Thus, a cohort of sarcoidosis patients will be compared with tuberculosis patients. The MoMa systemic signature will be defined on whole blood (TruCulture model) and then in situ through different methods (multi-parameter spectral flow cytometry, RNA-seq, Luminex, imaging mass cytometry). The epigenome of monocytes will be studied thanks to CUT\&Tag. The MoMa systemic signature will be defined ex vivo at different time points during the course of the disease with phenotypic, transcriptomic, cytokine and functional approaches. The previously identified signature will be studied in situ and completed by the characterization of granuloma architecture and microenvironmental interactions, which could be modulated by epigenetic modifications. Hence, the epigenome of monocytes will be analyzed in two groups (sarcoidosis and tuberculosis). These results would allow to better understand sarcoidosis physiopathology and, in fine, may raise new therapeutic strategies. Finally, the study could challenge the dogma on innate immunity/auto-inflammation versus adaptive immunity/auto-immunity/memory.

To facilitate clinical, basic science, and translational research projects involving the study of rheumatic diseases.

This study aims to better understand the role of immune system cells in lung diseases such as lung cancer, sarcoidosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The investigators are studying how these immune cells can sometimes help the body defend itself, but in other cases may contribute to cancer growth or long-term lung inflammation. Although recent treatments like immunotherapy have improved cancer care, only a small proportion of patients currently benefit from these therapies. One goal of this research is to understand why some patients do not respond or develop resistance to treatment. The knowledge gained from this study may help researchers develop more effective and personalized treatments for people with lung diseases in the future.

The goal of this observational study is to create a single macro registry system with data collection on common clinical features, grouping the different rare diseases (RD). Moreover, the specific goals are to generate an alert system for possible cases of RD with data from the electronic medical record, to describe the occurrence of RD in the evaluated population, to characterize the population, to describe patterns of diagnosis and treatment of RD present at the time, and to explore patient-reported outcomes.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause that can affect any organ in the body, including the heart. Granulomatous myocarditis can lead to ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias causing significant morbidity and mortality. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) has been shown to reverse active myocarditis and preserve left ventricular (LV) function and in some cases improve LV function. In addition, IST can suppress arrhythmias that develop due to active myocarditis and prevent the formation of scar. The potential role of cardiac biomarkers, including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and cardiac troponins, in detecting active myocarditis is limited and studies have been disappointing. At present, there are no biomarkers to detect active myocarditis and the use of advanced imaging modalities (FDG-PET) for assessing and monitoring active myocarditis is not feasible or practical and is associate with high radiation exposure. As such, a biomarker that is reflective of active myocarditis and that is cardiac specific will assist physicians in assessing the presence of active myocarditis to guide therapeutic decisions and to assess response to therapy which can limit further cardiac damage. Cell free DNA (cfDNA) are fragments of genomic DNA that are released into the circulation from dying or damaged cells. It is a powerful diagnostic tool in cancer, transplant rejection and fetal medicine especially when the genomic source differs from the host. A novel technique that relies on tissue unique CpG methylation patterns can identify the tissue source of cell free DNA in an individual reflecting potential tissue injury. We will be conducting a pilot study to explore the utility of this diagnostic tool to identify granulomatous myocarditis in patients with sarcoidosis.

This study evaluates the relationship between vitamin-D status and severity of sarcoidosis, and the effects of vitamin-D repletion in vitamin-D insufficient patients with sarcoidosis. Half the patients with sarcoidosis who are vitamin-D insufficient will receive standard vitamin-D supplementation via standard regimen while the other half will receive a placebo. Sarcoidosis patients who are vitamin-D sufficient will also act as controls.

This study sets out to register imaging of small biopsy specimens obtained during bronchoscopy using full-field optical coherence tomography against standard histologic evaluation.

Establish a interstitial lung disease (ILD) registry and biorepository to lead towards a further understanding of the disease.

The goal of the study is to create a longitudinal record of patient reported outcomes for people living with sarcoidosis that maintains privacy. Patients report on the following: demographics, disease symptoms, diagnostic journey, provider experience, disease treatment, and burden of disease. Patients can also link their Electronic Health Records (EHR). The goal is to create a natural history of sarcoidosis, support research, and better understand the needs of the sarcoidosis community.

The goal of this study is to determine if it's possible to use a high resolution imaging device called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to develop an unbiased, standard method of counting and categorizing the various types of cells and proteins found in an eye condition called anterior uveitis. Anterior uveitis is a type of inflammation in the eye that can be caused by many different diseases of the body.

This study is a prospective observational non-randomized clinical trial where all the participitants undergo the same procedure and every participitant's samples are compared to each other. The investigators conduct EBUS TBNA and EBUS TBMCB on all the study participants.The cryobiopsy samples are numbered to evaluate the number of biopsies needed to reach a definite diagnosis and to assess the added value of every sample taken from the same participitant. Every participitant's own samples are compared to each other and added value of EBUS TBMCB is defined as the difference in diagnostic yield between the EBUS TBNA alone and the combination of EBUS TBNA with EBUS TBMCB. Diagnostic yield is defined as the efficacy of the investigation module in reaching a definite diagnosis (percentage of cases with a definite diagnosis). Follow up four weeks after the procedure to assess the risk for postoperative complications.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the ability of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to identify cardiac involvement in patients with sarcoidosis. Patients were to undergo CMR in addition to routine clinical evaluation.

The AYLo study (AutoimmunitY and Loss of y - Investigating the Role of Hematopoietic Mutations and Mosaic Mutation in the Y Chromosome in Autoimmune Rheumatologic Diseases) aims to systematically investigate hematopoietic mutations, such as hematopoietic (mosaic) loss of the Y chromosome (mLOY), focusing on their underlying causes, pathophysiological significance, patterns of manifestation, and impact on disease progression in autoimmune, rheumatologic disorders. This research seeks to bridge existing knowledge gaps by exploring how such mutations influence immune homeostasis, cellular function, and susceptibility to inflammation-driven pathologies. Through the integration of advanced immunological profiling, the study aspires to uncover key mechanisms that drive the initiation, progression, and complications of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. These analyses will combine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) arrays, multiplex assays, transcriptomics, and flow cytometry staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to delineate the interplay between hematopoietic mutations and immune dysregulation. A further objective is the development of a multimodal framework for disease-specific characterization, enabling precise mapping of mutation-driven phenotypes across diverse autoimmune conditions. This framework will incorporate clinical, molecular, and imaging data. Additionally, the AYLo study aims to explore the potential role of mLOY and other hematopoietic mutations as biomarkers for disease stratification, prognosis, and therapeutic response. The findings may open avenues for personalized treatment approaches, leveraging the molecular insights to inform targeted interventions and improve patient outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic disorders. By integrating translational and basic science approaches, this study has the potential to redefine current paradigms in autoimmune disease research and therapy.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease, characterized by the formation of immune granulomas with various clinical symptoms depending on the involved organs, which can involve many organs and systems associated with emotional and physical consequences that affect the quality of life, whose cause is unknown, but usually affects the respiratory system, and occurs mostly in young and middle-aged adults. Lung involvement, seen in 95% of patients, causes limitation of lung capacity and decrease in inspiratory muscle strength, which are important factors that lead to an increase in dyspnea and a decrease in walking distance. In addition to respiratory muscle weakness, skeletal muscle dysfunction is also frequently observed. The most common symptoms in sarcoidosis are dyspnea and fatigue. When the current literature is examined, it can be seen that studies on non-pharmacological treatment methods in Sarcoidosis are quite limited. Although relatively common in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), various studies conducted in patients with Bronchiectasis, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Asthma have shown that yoga results in a decrease in dyspnea and fatigue, and an increase in pulmonary functions and exercise capacity. On the other hand, no study has been found on yogic techniques in Sarcoidosis. Aim of this study is to investigate the effects of yogic techniques and conventional physiotherapy program on pulmonary functions, body oxygen level test (BOLT), exercise capacity (6MWT), anxiety, depression, fatigue, dyspnea perception, sleep quality, and quality of life in sarcoidosis cases at different stages. In these patients known to have multisystem involvement, holistic approaches gain importance due to the nature of the disease.

Determining the etiology of cardiomyopathy is of high clinical importance for optimal treatment strategy and prediction of prognosis. There is increased risk for cardiovascular disease and higher propensity for cardiovascular related mortality among Black and non-Hispanic White patients. Recently, advanced cardiac imaging has become a vital tool in diagnosis and risk stratification of cardiovascular disease. Very limited data is available on the prevalence and characteristics of different cardiovascular diseases in Hispanic and African American minority groups, therefore, studying different racial and ethnic minority groups in the Bronx population is an exceptionally valuable source to determine the prevalence of cardiomyopathies among minority groups along with study survival in this population. This study aims to determine the etiology of cardiovascular disease in a diverse patient population by utilizing various cardiovascular imaging modalities, with a focus on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and to develop risk stratification models by applying advanced cardiovascular imaging markers.

In this study, the efficacy and safety of treating pulmonary sarcoidosis with 12 months vs. 6 months of prednisolone will be compared. The hypothesis is that longer treatment DURAtion would be more effective in preventing treatment failure or early relapse in SARCoidosis (DURASARC trial). The premise of this hypothesis is that even small doses of prednisolone given over longer periods can effectively suppress disease activity in sarcoidosis without a significant increase in adverse effects.

Background: Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease, most commonly affecting the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes but can affect virtually any organ, sometimes manifesting as life threatening cardiac arrythmias. Some patients resolve spontaneously, whereas others get a chronic disease leading to for instance impaired lung function and cardiac failure. The most severe cases might need a transplantation. In the lungs, activated T cells are accumulated leading to release of cytokines, especially TNF-alpha is regarded as crucial for disease progression. Some segments of the T cell receptor and specific genes (HLA types) are connected to a resolving disease. More detailed knowledge about mechanisms why some experience a chronic disease course and others resolve spontaneously without treatment is to a large extent lacking. There is no cure, and despite treatment with immunosuppressants (often corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents), many patients experience a deteriorating disease. Aim: 1. Find biomarkers to be able to early predict which patients will develop a more severe/ chronic disease course and thereby enabeling early intervention before irreversible damage. 2. Predict which treatment is best for a specific patient, i.e. individualize treatment. 3. Find targets for new potential therapies. Methods: The majority of data is collected at investigations normally performed during diagnostic work-up for sarcoidosis. Most patients undergo a bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and some also lymph node punction through oesophagus with the help of ultrasound. The BAL fluid that remains after clinical analysis is used for research purpose. For patients undergoing lymph node punction, one extra punction is performed for research purpose. Extra blood samples are taken from all patients. The samples will mostly be used for studying T cells with immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry including activity markers, subtypes and receptors, but also cytokines and other cells (for instance B cells, NK and NKT cells). The patients are followed longitudinally, minimum 2 years. Some patients will undergo a second bronchoscopy 6-12 months after the first. Results from the immunological investigations will be correlated to disease course, genetics and result of treatment. Significance : By comparing the inflammation in several compartments (lung, lymph node , blood) at a molecular level with clinical disease course, genotype, and treatment response we hope to find biomarkers that can predict disease course and response to therapy. Thereby, we hope to be able to tailor therapy for each individual patient. By studying several compartments, the results may also help to improve understanding of how a systemic inflammation is distributed within the body, and thus also contribute to understanding of other inflammatory diseases.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by the presence of epithelioid granulomas without caseous necrosis in the organs involved. Sarcoidosis cutaneous lesions can be severe. There is no recommendation for the treatment of cutaneous sarcoidosis. A recent study highlights the potential efficacy of mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of sarcoidosis granulomas. The hypothesis is that sirolimus could be effective for sarcoidosis treatment, especially for cutaneous lesions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate sirolimus efficacy on cutaneous sarcoidosis of the face. The main evaluation criteria is the percentage of patients with a significant clinical response (relative decrease in "facial SASI" ≥ 25%) at week 16 of treatment.