A historic meta-analysis conducted by the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, released on Saturday, reveals that nearly four out of every ten patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis experience a relapse after treatment is reduced or discontinued.
Understanding Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a disease characterized by an overactive immune system that forms tiny clumps of inflammatory cells, known as granulomas, which can interfere with normal organ function. The lungs are most commonly affected, followed by lymph nodes. Once considered rare in India, it now affects 6 to 12 people per lakh population, thanks to advances in diagnostic tools and greater awareness among specialists.
Key Findings of the Study
Published in the high-impact medical journal Respiratory Medicine, the study pooled findings from 51 studies involving 6,093 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, conducted between 1960 and 2025. The paper included data from studies in India, Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, including cohorts from PGIMER Chandigarh, AIIMS New Delhi, and other centers.
Lead researcher Prof. Zia Hashim stated, "We found that relapse occurred regardless of treatment approach in over 39% of patients. Nearly two-thirds of relapses occurred within 18 months, with the highest risk observed between 6 and 12 months after stopping therapy. This makes continuous follow-up a must for such patients to avoid complications."
Risk Factors for Relapse
Patients with advanced lung disease were significantly more likely to suffer a relapse after treatment withdrawal, making them the highest-risk group. Age, sex, and the type of treatment received did not appear to influence the likelihood of recurrence. Prof. Hashim added, "A high burden of TB in India incidentally leads to diagnosis of the disease in an advanced stage. Our experience is that about 50% of patients who reach us were already under treatment for TB."
Significance of the Research
Director of SGPGI, Prof. Radha Krishan Dhiman, dubbed the research as pathbreaking, stating: "The quality of research undertaken by our center is world-class. The team brought on board Prof. Robert P. Baughman, a pulmonary physician at the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, USA, who is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost authorities on sarcoidosis."
