Cough in sarcoidosis patients

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease of unknown aetiology characterized by presence of non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. Cough is a common and significant symptom in sarcoidosis, reducing quality of life. Objective 24 h cough monitoring proved that sarcoidosis patients have significantly higher cough frequency compared to controls and their cough has diurnal variation, it is gender-specific and shows racial differences. It correlates with the presence of inflammation in the airways, but is not influenced by the X-ray staging of the disease, nor the degree of airway obstruction. Subjects with sarcoidosis have heightened cough reflex sensitivity, which is a result of interaction between the airway cough sensors and consequences of pathological process, detailed pathogenesis of cough in this demographic is unclear. The airway hyperresponsiveness, sarcoidosis of the upper airways and sensitivity to biomechanical forces play a role. More studies should be performed to understand pathogenesis of cough in sarcoidosis patients to improve the management of this troublesome symptom.