Sarcoidosis and Calcium Homeostasis Disturbances-Do We Know Where We Stand?

Overview

Journal Chron Respir Dis

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2019 Nov 14

PMID 31718265

Citations 15

Authors

Lukasz Gwadera

Adam Jerzy Bialas

Mikolaj Aleksander Iwanski

Pawel Gorski

Wojciech Jerzy Piotrowski

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The majority of cases involving hypercalcemia in the setting of sarcoidosis are explained by the overproduction of calcitriol by activated macrophages. Vitamin D takes part in the regulation of granuloma formation. However, using vitamin D metabolites to assess the activity of the disease is still problematic, and its usefulness is disputable. In some cases, though, a calcium metabolism disorder could be a valuable tool (i.e. as a marker of extrathoracic sarcoidosis). Although sarcoidosis does not cause a decrease in bone mineral density, increased incidence of vertebral deformities is noted. Despite increasing knowledge about calcium homeostasis disorders in patients with sarcoidosis, there is still a need for clear guidelines regarding calcium and vitamin D supplementation in these patients.

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