Sarcoidosis is a complex disease and much concerning this disease is still unknown. It can be difficult to diagnose patients. In some cases it is necessary to diagnose someone using biopsies, to determine the presence of granulomas under the microscope, with 100% certainty. However, sometimes this biopsy is considered to difficult or to dangerous. Think about obtaining brain- or nerve tissue in case of involvement of the nervous system (neurosarcoidosis) in some, but not all cases. Furthermore, not all patient respond wel to treatment. Especially in some rare manifestations of the disease this has not been investigated yet. To understand the disease better we are conducting scientific research of chronic inflammatory disorders, like sarcoidosis. We hope to collect more knowledge about this disease to ultimately improve patient care.
Research projects
Biomarkers in left-over cerebrospinal fluid
Drs. D. Fritz, Dr. M.C. Brouwer, Prof. Dr. D. van de Beek A good and sensitive laboratory investigation to determine whether someone has neurosarcoidosis is lacking. Currently there are only investigations that are not specific or sensitive enough. In this research project we are evaluating whether we can determine certain substances in cerebrospinal fluid of neurosarcoidosis patients, that can contribute to a quicker and more certain diagnosis.
RUBRIC registry
Drs. A. Musters, Dr. S.W. Tas RUBRIC stands for "Rational Use of Biologics in rare Refractory Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) Consortium". It is an online registry that has been developed to evaluate the effectivity of modern types of medication, called biologicals. Frequently, these types of are being prescribed based on research investigating small cohorts due to the rarity of the disease for which they are...
Recent publications
Off-labelgebruik van biologicals voor zeldzame immunologische aandoeningen
Anne Musters, Amira Assaf, Dominique L.P. Baeten en Sander W. Tas Patients with serious, immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID's), like sarcoidosis, are increasingly treated with biologicals. Because research in these rare diseases is often very difficult, it is not known in all cases what the effects of the treatment are. In this article we elaborate on the RUBRIC-registry, in which we registrate the efficacy and the safety of these agents.
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
