Sarcoidosis and Silica: a study of occupational exposures (SANDSTONE)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A case-control study in secondary and tertiary care, to determine the prevalence of occupational exposure to silica, beryllium and other pre-determined occupational risk factors in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
IRAS ID
270512
Contact name
Gareth Walters
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 24 days
Research summary
Sarcoidosis is a disease affecting 1 in 10,000 people in the UK. Cells of the immune system clump together in different organs of the body, forming granulomas, which may result in symptoms and disease. Pulmonary sarcoidosis is when these granulomas are found in the lungs and lymph nodes of the chest. The cause of sarcoidosis is currently unknown.
Silicosis and Berylliosis (chronic beryllium disease) are types of occupational lung disease, caused by the inhalation of silica and beryllium respectively, usually whilst at work. They can be indistinguishable or mimic sarcoidosis, providing diagnostic challenges. A small number of studies have suggested that there may be a link between pulmonary sarcoidosis and occupational exposures including silica and beryllium, or that sarcoidosis may be misdiagnosed.
We intend to (1) define the prevalence of beryllium, silica and other occupational exposures (e.g. aluminium, wood dust, agricultural grain) in patients diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis and (2) describe the rate of misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis (e.g. silicosis) as pulmonary sarcoidosis.
The design will be a multi-centre case-control study with a case group of adult male patients (aged 18 and over) diagnosed with active or recent (within the last 5 years) pulmonary sarcoidosis radiologically or histologically, and are under active follow-up in a secondary or tertiary care respiratory clinic. Pre-existing demographic and clinical data will be collected before the patient undertakes a full occupational exposure history via interview (face to face or telephone). A control group will be age and gender group-matched patients diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The demographic and clinical data will be collated from a pre-existing local clinical database held at the lead site.
The data will be grouped and displayed using measures of central tendency and spread for continuous data, and proportions for categorical data.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0360
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion