Pulmonary function in stage I and II pulmonary sarcoidosis

Pulmonary function tests in 25 newly studied patients with Stage I and 19 with Stage II sarcoidosis revealed normal mean values in Stage I for all tests except DLCOSB. Mean values for VC, TLC, MMF, and exercise Pao, were abnormal in Stage II and significantly different from Stage I. There was a parallel difference in prevalence of impairment of these measurements and of DLCOSB as well. When the present results are compared with previously reported values for sarcoidosis patients with radiographic evidence of pulmonary fibrosis, progressive impairment is evident with later stages of disease. These findings indicate that extent and prevalence of impairment increase with progressive radiographic abnormality and that physiologic findings are useful in staging sarcoidosis.