2011 Articles

Sarcoidosis Diagnosed After September 11, 2001, Among Adults Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster

Jordan, Hannah T.; Stellman, Steven D.; Prezant, David; Alvin, Teirstein; Sukhminder S., Osahan; Cone, James E.

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.