Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of Fibrotic Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

Abstract

Abstract Background Fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis (FPS) has a high mortality rate, but its pathogenesis is not clear and effective treatments are lackings. In recent years, numerous literature reviews have been published from various perspectives on FPS. However, there is still a lack of visual analysis and summary of its research status, hotspots, and development trends. Therefore, to fill this knowledge gap, this study conducted a bibliometric and visual analysis of the published literature on FPS. Methods A total of 962 relevant publications were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace was used to conduct a bibliometric analysis and draw knowledge maps from five dimensions: publication years and document types, scientific collaboration networks (authors, countries/territories and institutions), journals, references and keywords. Results Current FPS research exhibits steady growth, capturing widespread attention. Noteworthy authors include Bargagli E, Baughman RP, Valeyre D, Raghu G, and Hunninghake GW. USA, Italy, Germany, England, and Netherlands demonstrate relatively mature research in this field. Three influential research institutions, namely Royal Brompton Hospital (England), Imperial College London (England) and University of California System (USA), stand out in this field. Important journals include American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, European Respiratory Journal, Chest, Thorax and Respiratory Medicine. These journals primarily focus on the evaluation, clinical and immunological characteristics, and treatment of FPS. Current hot research topics mainly include FPS-relevant diseases (interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis), complications (pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer), commonly used treatments (bronchoalveolar lavage), and biomarkers (YKL-40). Diagnosis, treatment (clinical trial drug studies), cardiac sarcoidosis, and quality of life are currently in an explosive stage and will be the focus of future research. Conclusion This research provides useful information for the study of FPS, including potential collaborators, research status of various countries and institutions, distribution and knowledge structure of journals, as well as research status and hotspots, providing a reference for future broader and deeper research.