Sarcoidosis
Meaning of sarcoidosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, sarcoidosis means a chronic, multisystem disorder characterised in affected organs by an accumulation of T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes, non- caseating epithelioid granulomas, and derangement of the normal tissue architecture. (3) While sarcoidosis attracts ICD-10-AM code D86, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of sarcoidosis is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 60 of 2025
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting sarcoidosis or death from sarcoidosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)taking one of the following medications within the 5 years before clinical onset or clinical worsening; (a) BRAF/MEK inhibitors; (b) immune checkpoint inhibitors; (c) interferons;
Note: BRAF/MEK inhibitor drugs include dabrafenib, lorlatinib, trametinib, and vemurafenib.
Note: Immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs include ipilimumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab.
Note: Interferon drugs include interferon alpha, interferon beta, peginterferon alpha, and peginterferon beta.
- (2)being treated for human immunodeficiency virus infection with antiretroviral drugs within the 2 years before clinical onset or clinical worsening;
- (3)having received an organ or tissue transplant, other than a corneal transplant, from a donor with sarcoidosis within the 2 years before clinical onset;
- (4)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for sarcoidosis before clinical worsening;
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 61 of 2025
3 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, sarcoidosis or death from sarcoidosis is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)taking one of the following medications within the 5 years before clinical onset or clinical worsening; (a) BRAF/MEK inhibitors; (b) immune checkpoint inhibitors; (c) interferons;
Note: BRAF/MEK inhibitor drugs include dabrafenib, lorlatinib, trametinib, and vemurafenib.
Note: Immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs include ipilimumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab.
Note: Interferon drugs include interferon alpha, interferon beta, peginterferon alpha, and peginterferon beta.
- (2)having received an organ or tissue transplant, other than a corneal transplant, from a donor with sarcoidosis within the 2 years before clinical onset;
- (3)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for sarcoidosis before clinical worsening;
