Chest
Original ResearchSarcoidosisChanges in Chest Roentgenogram of Sarcoidosis Patients During a Clinical Trial of Infliximab Therapy: Comparison of Different Methods of Evaluation
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Materials and Methods
This was a multicenter trial comprised of 34 sites from 15 countries in North America and Europe. A detailed description of the study design and main clinical outcome has been published previously.10 Sarcoidosis was diagnosed based on standard criteria.11 All patients underwent a biopsy of at least one site demonstrating noncaseating granulomas, a clinical presentation consistent with sarcoidosis, and no alternative cause for granulomatous disease identified. In addition, all patients had to be
Results
A total of 138 patients were enrolled in the study. The characteristics of the patients have been reported elsewhere.10 Of the 138 patients, not all patients had their chest roentgenograms reviewed at all times because of randomization but not treated (3 patients) and discontinuation from the study prior to week 24 (2 patients). Missing or inadequate chest roentgenograms were discovered at various time points. Figure 4 summarizes the final numbers in each group.
Discussion
The current study assessed the reproducibility of chest roentgenogram interpretation in a treatment trial of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Chest roentgenogram has been recommended for initial and follow-up assessment of sarcoidosis patients.14 Improvement in the chest roentgenogram has been noted during corticosteroid therapy based on improvement in either chest radiograph stage.15, 16 Relapse after withdrawal of corticosteroids has been proceeded by chest roentgenogram changes.17 Others have used a
Acknowledgments
Author contributions: Drs. Baughman, Drent, Judson, Costabel, duBois, and Kavuru contributed to the study design as part of the steering committee, as well as the enrollment of patients into the study. Drs. Shipley and Desai are the radiologists who reviewed all the films. Drs. Barnathan, Schlenker-Herceg, and Lo, and Ms. Flavin contributed to the study design, logistics, data acquisition, and data analysis. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
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