Chest ACCP Education Calendar
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Guest Access | Sign In via User Name/Password
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Free
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Article Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (13)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Prezant, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Kelly, K. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Prezant, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Kelly, K. J.
(Chest. 1999;116:1183-1193.)
© 1999 American College of Chest Physicians

The Incidence, Prevalence, and Severity of Sarcoidosis in New York City Firefighters*

David J. Prezant, MD, FCCP; Atheya Dhala, MD; Andrew Goldstein, MD, FCCP; Denise Janus, MD; Felipe Ortiz, MD; Thomas K. Aldrich, MD, FCCP and Kelly J. Kelly, MD

* From the New York City Fire Department, Bureau of Health Services (Drs. Prezant and Kelly), and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center (Drs. Prezant, Dhala, Janus, Ortiz, and Aldrich), Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, Bronx, NY.

Correspondence to: David J. Prezant, MD, FCCP, Montefiore Medical Center, Pulmonary Division, Centennial 423, Bronx, NY 10467

Objective: The etiology of sarcoidosis is unknown, but epidemiology suggests that environmental agents are a factor. Because firefighters are exposed to numerous toxins, we questioned whether sarcoidosis was increased in this cohort.

Setting: The New York City Fire Department (FDNY), employing > 11,000 firefighters and nearly 3,000 emergency medical services (EMS) health-care workers (HCWs).

Design: In 1985, FDNY initiated a surveillance program to determine the incidence, prevalence, and severity of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in firefighters. In 1995, EMS HCWs were added as control subjects.

Results: Between 1985 and 1998, 4 prior cases and 21 new cases of sarcoidosis were found in FDNY firefighters. Annual incidence proportions ranged from 0 to 43.6/100,000, and averaged 12.9/100,000. On July 1, 1998, the point prevalence was 222/100,000. For EMS HCWs, annual incidence proportions were zero. Radiographic stage 0 or stage 1 sarcoidosis was found in 19 firefighters (76%), and stage 3 was found in 1 firefighter (4%). Pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide) was normal in 17 firefighters (68%), and reduced to <= 65% predicted in 2 firefighters (8%). Maximum oxygen consumption (MO2) was normal in 10 of 17 firefighters (59%), and reduced to 65% predicted in 3 firefighters (12%). Five of seven firefighters (71%) with abnormal MO2 had gas exchange abnormalities, and none had O2 desaturation. All returned to fire fighting.

Conclusions: Annual incidence proportions and point prevalence were increased in FDNY firefighters as compared to EMS HCWs and historical controls. Radiographs and physiologic measurements demonstrated only minimal impairment.

Key Words: exercise testing • firefighters • pulmonary function • sarcoidosis




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ChestHome page
A. Miller
Sarcoidosis, Firefighters Sarcoidosis, and World Trade Center "Sarcoid-Like" Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease
Chest, December 1, 2007; 132(6): 2053 - 2053.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ChestHome page
G. Izbicki, R. Chavko, G. I. Banauch, M. D. Weiden, K. I. Berger, T. K. Aldrich, C. Hall, K. J. Kelly, and D. J. Prezant
World Trade Center "Sarcoid-Like" Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease in New York City Fire Department Rescue Workers
Chest, May 1, 2007; 131(5): 1414 - 1423.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
L. S. Newman, C. S. Rose, E. A. Bresnitz, M. D. Rossman, J. Barnard, M. Frederick, M. L. Terrin, S. E. Weinberger, D. R. Moller, G. McLennan, et al.
A Case Control Etiologic Study of Sarcoidosis: Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 15, 2004; 170(12): 1324 - 1330.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JAMAHome page
K. W. Thomas and G. W. Hunninghake
Sarcoidosis
JAMA, June 25, 2003; 289(24): 3300 - 3303.
[Full Text] [PDF]

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

I Believe Fire Fighting Can Cause Sarcoidosis
Michael J Steenstra
Chest Online, 6 Dec 2000 [Full text]

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1999 by the American College of Chest Physicians.