Scientist Develop Simple Blood Test to Diagnose Sarcoidosis

A team of scientists supported by the National Institutes of Health has developed a way to rapidly test and diagnose sarcoidosis. The tool uses a simple blood test that can allow for the selective use of more invasive diagnostic tests to identify the disease. 
 
Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is marked by the growth of granulomas or tiny lumps in the lungs and other organs. 
 
The findings of the test were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
 
“Currently, diagnosing sarcoidosis isn’t a straightforward process, and requires tissue removal and testing with additional screenings to rule out other diseases, such as tuberculosis or lung cancer,” said James Kiley, Ph.D., Director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of NIH. “Using a blood test will help diagnose faster, particularly in those organs that are more challenging to biopsy and with less harm to the patient.”
 
The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown; however, researchers believe it is an immune disorder triggered by specific antigens. Extracted genetic material was used to identify antigens linked to the disease. Scientists collected fluid samples and blood cells from pulmonary sarcoidosis patients. 
 
Researchers used a combination of molecular techniques for two newly described disease-specific antigen biomarkers that bind to the antibodies of sarcoidosis-positive patients. 
 
The specifically designed blood test needs a small sample of blood to determine if sarcoidosis can be detected. Researchers verified the test by comparing samples from 386 people, including patients with sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and healthy patients. The tests were able to differentiate between those with sarcoidosis from those with other respiratory diseases. 
 
“More testing needs to be completed before this screening method is ready for clinical use, but it’s possible that could be a reality within a few years,” said Lobelia Samavati, from Wayne State University and senior author on the study.
 
Funding was supported through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) grants R01HL113508 and R21HL148089.