Increased serum thymidine kinase activity in acute sarcoidosis

Intern Med. 2002 Feb;41(2):129-32. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.41.129.

Abstract

This is the first case report of acute sarcoidosis with increased serum thymidine kinase (TK) activity. A 43-year-old male presented fever, swelling of parotid glands, lymphadenopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Sarcoidosis was pathologically diagnosed by lung and parotid gland biopsy. His serum TK, which was increased to 11.2 U/l at diagnosis (normal <5 U/l), normalized after glucocorticoid therapy. Serum TK has been considered as a good marker of the proliferative activity of various types of neoplasms. Its rise in sarcoidosis has, however, not been described. Because acute sarcoidosis sometimes resembles malignant lymphoma, the possible rise of serum TK in sarcoidosis may be worthy of note.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers
  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Granuloma, Respiratory Tract / etiology
  • Granuloma, Respiratory Tract / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphatic Diseases / etiology
  • Lymphoma / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma / enzymology
  • Male
  • Parotid Gland / pathology
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Radiography
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnosis
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy
  • Sarcoidosis / enzymology*
  • Sarcoidosis / pathology
  • Thymidine Kinase / blood*
  • Virus Diseases / diagnosis
  • Virus Diseases / enzymology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Prednisolone
  • Thymidine Kinase