Sarcoidosis diagnosed after september 11, 2001, among adults exposed to the world trade center disaster

Abstract

Objective: Explore relationships between World Trade Center (WTC) exposures and sarcoidosis. Methods: Sarcoidosis has been reported after exposure to the WTC disaster. We ascertained biopsy-proven post-9/11 sarcoidosis among WTC Health Registry enrollees. Cases diagnosed after Registry enrollment were included in a nested case-control study. Controls were matched to cases on age, sex, race or ethnicity, and eligibility group (eg, rescue or recovery worker). Results: We identified 43 cases of post-9/11 sarcoidosis. Twenty-eight incident cases and 109 controls were included in the case-control analysis. Working on the WTC debris pile was associated with sarcoidosis (odds ratio 9.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 74.0), but WTC dust cloud exposure was not (odds ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 2.8). Conclusions: Working on the WTC debris pile was associated with an elevated risk of post-9/11 sarcoidosis. Occupationally exposed workers may be at increased risk. © 2011 by American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.