Pulmonary hypertension in pulmonary sarcoidosis - optimizing the diagnostic strategy

First, non-invasive diagnostic tools can optimize the diagnostic strategy, in order to minimize the number of invasive diagnostic procedures.


Second, invasive imaging of the pulmonary artery can further differentiate the mechanisms involved in PH associated sarcoidosis.

The first timepoint is the initial diagnostic screening, including right heart catheterization and IVUS if indicated. All diagnostic procedures will be performed within weeks from each other.



The second timepoint, only for patients diagnosed as no pulmonary hypertension, is after one year of initial screening.

All patients will be screened for the presence of pulmonary hypertension by a standardized diagnostic strategy (Local standard protocol) including history taking and physical examination, electrocardiogram and biomarkers related to pulmonary hypertension (NT-pro BNP, troponin and uric acid) and echocardiography with additional 3D-echocardiography (Ventripoint® system) in order to assess right ventricle volume and function measurements (). In a subgroup of patients with the diagnosis PH possible or likely based on the diagnostic strategy (as suggested by the international guidelines for pulmonary hypertension), right heart catheterization will be performed to measure pulmonary hemodynamics. Additionally, this will include intravascular imaging of the pulmonary artery using IVUS (Revolution® 45 MHz Rotational IVUS Imaging Catheter).