Renal disease in sarcoidosis patients in a German multicentric retrospective cohort study

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease potentially affecting every organ system. Renal involvement is reportedly rare, and the evidence consists of case reports and cohort studies. Systematic investigations are scarce and show a varying prevalence ranging from <1% to 30-50%.

We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with a recent diagnosis of sarcoidosis from five tertiary care centers focusing on renal sarcoidosis.

We analyzed data from 327 patients with sarcoidosis between 2001 and 2021. Of 327 patients, 109 (33.3%) had probable or definite renal sarcoidosis. 90 (27.5%) had histopathologic confirmation. 57 (64%) had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m². The most prominent associated finding was an elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Patients with renal sarcoidosis more frequently received glucocorticoids than other non-renal sarcoidosis patients (92% vs. 78%, p < 0.01). Also, azathioprine (38% vs. 16%, p < 0.001) and mycophenolate mofetil (5% vs. 1%, p < 0.05) were more frequently used in renal sarcoidosis compared to non-renal sarcoidosis, whereas methotrexate was used less frequently (7% vs. 17%, p < 0.05).

Our data of the largest cohort with biopsy-confirmed renal sarcoidosis demonstrate a higher prevalence (27.5% of all patients) than previously published with a relevant disease burden. The urinary findings in most cases were only mildly abnormal, and some patients did not have renal biopsy despite abnormal urinary results. A renal workup should be performed in all patients with a new diagnosis of sarcoidosis.