Recommended Tests for Monitoring Sarcoidosis

What tests are recommended for monitoring a patient with sarcoidosis? Should Holter monitoring, eye examination, and measurement of ionized calcium levels be routinely included?

- MD

In 1999, the American Thoracic Society, the European Respiratory Society, and the World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders jointly published a consensus statement on new advances in diagnosing and managing sarcoidosis.¹ In the review, the experts tabulated their recommendations for the initial evaluation of patients with sarcoidosis (Table).¹

I routinely obtain serum calcium levels, an ECG, and an eye examination for every patient who has sarcoidosis. An echocardiogram, Holter monitoring, and an exercise study are performed only if the patient has a slow or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

- Om P. Sharma, MD
   Professor of Medicine
   Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
   Keck School of Medicine
   University of Southern California, Los Angeles

References:

REFERENCE:

1.

Statement on sarcoidosis. Joint Statement of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG) adopted by the ATS Board of Directors and by the ERS Executive Committee, February 1999.

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

. 1999;160:736-755.