Clinical features of sarcoidosis in elderly patients

We reviewed 17 cases of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis occurring in patients who were 65 years of age or older at the time of diagnosis in order to determine the clinical features of sarcoidosis in this group of elderly patients. A female preponderance (76%) was noted, as well as significant respiratory and cutaneous symptoms. There were no characteristic diagnostic features of sarcoidosis in this group; therefore, we suggest that tissue biopsy is needed to exclude pulmonary diseases such as neoplasm or tuberculosis. Most elderly patients having sarcoidosis remained clinically stable during the period of follow-up and did not require therapy for sarcoidosis. We propose that sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of elderly patients presenting with pulmonary or multisystem disease.