Sarcoidosis is a complex disease and a lot is still unknown. The diagnosis can be difficult. To diagnosis a patient with 100% certainty the presence of granulomas must be established in affected tissue. However, to acquire biopsy material might sometimes be associated with high mortality or morbidity. Furthermore, not all patient respond well to treatment. Especially in rare manifestations of sarcoidosis this is not well investigated. To improve our undertanding of the disease and to improve the diagnostic process and outcome we conduct scientific research.
Research projects
More research projectsRecent publications
How to monitor safety and efficacy of biologic treatment in rare, therapy-refractory immune-mediated inflammatory diseases?: Making the right clinical decisions for rare diseases with the right tools.
Anne Musters en Sander W. Tas This article is an editorial in the scientific journal 'Rheumatology'. Evaluating the effects and safety of modern treatment agents which treat rare diseases can be complex, because it can be difficult to properly investigate them in a qualitative clinical trial due to the low number of patients with this disease. Therefore, it is important to adequately describe the effects of these treatments. This article suggests the five domains of the 'Rare IMID Disease Activity Score' (RIDAS).
Endosonography vs conventional bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis: the GRANULOMA randomized clinical trial
von Bartheld MB, Dekkers OM, Szlubowski A, Eberhardt R, Herth FJ, in 't Veen JC, de Jong YP, van der Heijden EH, Tournoy KG, Claussen M, van den Blink B, Shah PL, Zoumot Z, Clementsen P, Porsbjerg C, Mauad T, Bernardi FD, van Zwet EW, Rabe KF, Annema JT For the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, identifying granulomas in affected tissue is preferred. This is done by extracting lymph node tissue in the lungs via a biopsy. In this article the investigators evaluated what is the best way to perform the biopsy: with endosonography or with bronchoscopy (which is standard care). The article describes that endosonography is the best way to perform biopsy. Furthermore it describes what kind of complications might be expected.
Research groups
