Clinics in chest medicine
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Studies suggest clinically manifest cardiac involvement occurs in 5% of patients with pulmonary/systemic sarcoidosis. The principal manifestations of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are conduction abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias, and heart failure. Data indicate that an 20% to 25% of patients with pulmonary/systemic sarcoidosis have asymptomatic (clinically silent) cardiac involvement. ⋯ Most studies suggest a benign prognosis for patients with clinically silent CS. Immunosuppression therapy is advocated for clinically manifest CS. Device therapy, with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, is recommended for some patients.
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The skin is the second most common organ affected in sarcoidosis, which can affect patients of all ages and races, with African American women having the highest rates of sarcoidosis in the United States. The cutaneous manifestations are protean and can reflect involvement of sarcoidal granulomas within the lesion or represent reactive non-specific inflammation, as seen with erythema nodosum. Systemic work-up is necessary in any patient with cutaneous involvement of sarcoidal granulomas, and treatment depends on other organ involvement and severity of clinical disease. Skin-directed therapies are first line for mild disease, and immunomodulators or immunosuppressants may be necessary.
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Sarcoidosis is one of the leading causes of inflammatory eye disease. Ocular sarcoidosis can involve any part of the eye and its adnexal tissues and may cause uveitis, episcleritis/scleritis, eyelid abnormalities, conjunctival granuloma, optic neuropathy, lacrimal gland enlargement, and orbital inflammation. ⋯ Patients with ocular sarcoidosis can present with a wide range of clinical presentations and severity. Multidisciplinary approaches are required to achieve the best treatment outcomes for both ocular and systemic manifestations.
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Pulmonary hypertension is a complication of sarcoidosis leading to dyspnea and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) can be due to several factors, including vascular involvement by the granulomatous inflammation, compression of the pulmonary arteries by adenopathy, fibrotic changes within the lung, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. ⋯ A randomized, placebo-controlled trial found 16 weeks' bosentan therapy to be associated with significant improvement in pulmonary artery pressure. Future studies may better define who would respond to treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
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Clinics in chest medicine · Sep 2015
ReviewSleep Loss and Circadian Rhythm Disruption in the Intensive Care Unit.
Critical illness is associated with profound sleep disruption. Causality is diverse and includes physiologic, psychological, and environmental factors. There are limited pharmacologic interventions available to treat sleep disturbances in critical illness; however, multidisciplinary strategies that alter the intensive care unit (ICU) environment and cluster care delivery have shown promise in sleep and circadian promotion and delirium reduction. With the appropriate administrative support and involvement of diverse ICU stakeholders, effective strategies could be created, implemented, and maintained to improve sleep disruption in critically ill patients.