What is sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis is a disease that results from a specific type of inflammation of tissues of the body. It can appear in almost any body organ, but it starts most often in the lungs or lymph nodes.
The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. The disease can appear suddenly and disappear. Or it can develop gradually and go on to produce symptoms that come and go, sometimes for a lifetime.
As sarcoidosis progresses, microscopic lumps of a specific form of inflammation, called granulomas, appear in the affected tissues. In the majority of cases, these granulomas clear up, either with or without treatment. In the few cases where the granulomas do not heal and disappear, the tissues tend to remain inflamed and become scarred (fibrotic).
Sarcoidosis was first identified over 100 years ago by two dermatologists working independently, Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson in England and Dr. Caesar Boeck in Norway. Sarcoidosis was originally called Hutchinson's disease or Boeck's disease. Dr. Boeck went on to fashion today's name for the disease from the Greek words "sark" and "oid," meaning flesh-like. The term describes the skin eruptions that are frequently caused by the illness.
Sign & Symptoms
What are symptoms of sarcoidosis?
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) and a cough that won't go away can be among the first symptoms of sarcoidosis. But sarcoidosis can also show up suddenly with the appearance of skin rashes. Red bumps (erythema nodosum) on the face, arms, or shins and inflammation of the eyes are also common symptoms.
It is not unusual, however, for sarcoidosis symptoms to be more general. Weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, fever, or just an overall feeling of ill health can also be clues to the disease.
Signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis tend to vary, depending on which organs are affected and for how long you've had the disease. Sometimes sarcoidosis develops gradually and produces signs and symptoms that last for years. Or symptoms may appear suddenly and then disappear just as quickly. Many people with sarcoidosis have no symptoms, so the disease may not be discovered until you have a chest X-ray for another reason.
Generalized symptoms
For many people, sarcoidosis begins with the following signs and symptoms:
Almost everyone who has sarcoidosis eventually experiences lung problems, which may include:
Up to 25 percent of the individuals who have sarcoidosis develop skin problems, which may include:
Sarcoidosis can affect the eye without causing any symptoms, so it's important to have your eyes checked by a professional. When eye symptoms do occur, they may include:
Casuses:
Doctors don't know the exact cause of sarcoidosis. Some people appear to have a genetic predisposition for developing the disease, which may be triggered by exposure to specific bacteria, viruses, dust or chemicals. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint the genes and trigger substances that may be associated with sarcoidosis.
Normally, your immune system helps protect your body from foreign substances and invading microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. But in sarcoidosis, some immune cells clump together to form lumps called granulomas. As granulomas build up in an organ, the function of that organ worsens.
Preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based on the patient's medical history, routine tests, a physical examination, and a chest x- ray.
The doctor confirms the diagnosis of sarcoidosis by eliminating other diseases with similar features. These include such granulomatous diseases as berylliosis (a disease resulting from exposure to beryllium metal), tuberculosis, farmer's lung disease (hypersensitivity pneumonitis), fungal infections, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, and cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma).
Treatments and drugs:
You may not need treatment if you don't have any signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis or if they aren't bothering you. Sarcoidosis goes away on its own in many cases, but you should undergo close surveillance with regular chest X-rays and exams of the eyes, skin and any other organ involved. Treatment becomes necessary if organ function is threatened.
Medications
Organ transplant may be considered if sarcoidosis has severely damaged your lungs or liver.
Complications:
In about two-thirds of people with sarcoidosis, the condition resolves with no lasting consequences. But in some people, sarcoidosis can become chronic and lead to complications that may affect different parts of your body, such as your:
Sarcoidosis is a disease that results from a specific type of inflammation of tissues of the body. It can appear in almost any body organ, but it starts most often in the lungs or lymph nodes.
The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. The disease can appear suddenly and disappear. Or it can develop gradually and go on to produce symptoms that come and go, sometimes for a lifetime.
As sarcoidosis progresses, microscopic lumps of a specific form of inflammation, called granulomas, appear in the affected tissues. In the majority of cases, these granulomas clear up, either with or without treatment. In the few cases where the granulomas do not heal and disappear, the tissues tend to remain inflamed and become scarred (fibrotic).
Sarcoidosis was first identified over 100 years ago by two dermatologists working independently, Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson in England and Dr. Caesar Boeck in Norway. Sarcoidosis was originally called Hutchinson's disease or Boeck's disease. Dr. Boeck went on to fashion today's name for the disease from the Greek words "sark" and "oid," meaning flesh-like. The term describes the skin eruptions that are frequently caused by the illness.
Sign & Symptoms
What are symptoms of sarcoidosis?
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) and a cough that won't go away can be among the first symptoms of sarcoidosis. But sarcoidosis can also show up suddenly with the appearance of skin rashes. Red bumps (erythema nodosum) on the face, arms, or shins and inflammation of the eyes are also common symptoms.
It is not unusual, however, for sarcoidosis symptoms to be more general. Weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, fever, or just an overall feeling of ill health can also be clues to the disease.
Signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis tend to vary, depending on which organs are affected and for how long you've had the disease. Sometimes sarcoidosis develops gradually and produces signs and symptoms that last for years. Or symptoms may appear suddenly and then disappear just as quickly. Many people with sarcoidosis have no symptoms, so the disease may not be discovered until you have a chest X-ray for another reason.
Generalized symptoms
For many people, sarcoidosis begins with the following signs and symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Weight loss
Almost everyone who has sarcoidosis eventually experiences lung problems, which may include:
- Persistent dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
Up to 25 percent of the individuals who have sarcoidosis develop skin problems, which may include:
- Rash. A rash of red or reddish-purple bumps, most commonly located on the shins or ankles, may be warm and tender to the touch.
- Lesions. Disfiguring skin sores may occur on your nose, cheeks and ears.
- Color change. Areas of skin may get darker or lighter in color.
- Nodules. Growths just under the skin may develop, particularly around scars or tattoos.
Sarcoidosis can affect the eye without causing any symptoms, so it's important to have your eyes checked by a professional. When eye symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Blurred vision
- Eye pain
- Severe redness
- Sensitivity to light
Casuses:
Doctors don't know the exact cause of sarcoidosis. Some people appear to have a genetic predisposition for developing the disease, which may be triggered by exposure to specific bacteria, viruses, dust or chemicals. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint the genes and trigger substances that may be associated with sarcoidosis.
Normally, your immune system helps protect your body from foreign substances and invading microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. But in sarcoidosis, some immune cells clump together to form lumps called granulomas. As granulomas build up in an organ, the function of that organ worsens.
How is sarcoidosis diagnosed?
Preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based on the patient's medical history, routine tests, a physical examination, and a chest x- ray.
The doctor confirms the diagnosis of sarcoidosis by eliminating other diseases with similar features. These include such granulomatous diseases as berylliosis (a disease resulting from exposure to beryllium metal), tuberculosis, farmer's lung disease (hypersensitivity pneumonitis), fungal infections, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, and cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma).
Treatments and drugs:
You may not need treatment if you don't have any signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis or if they aren't bothering you. Sarcoidosis goes away on its own in many cases, but you should undergo close surveillance with regular chest X-rays and exams of the eyes, skin and any other organ involved. Treatment becomes necessary if organ function is threatened.
Medications
- Corticosteroids. Prednisone and other corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for sarcoidosis. In some cases, these powerful anti-inflammatory drugs can be applied directly to an affected area — via a cream to a skin lesion or with an inhaler to your lungs. Oral corticosteroids affect your whole body and can cause weight gain, mood swings, insomnia and weakened bones (osteoporosis).
- Anti-rejection drugs. Drugs such as methotrexate (Trexall) or azathioprine (Imuran) reduce inflammation by suppressing your immune system. But these drugs carry their own risks, such as making you more vulnerable to infections.
- Anti-malarial drugs. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) may be helpful for skin disease, nervous system involvement and elevated blood-calcium levels. Anti-malarial drugs can harm your eyes, so regular eye exams should be scheduled
- TNF-alpha inhibitors. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors are most commonly used to treat the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies have indicated that infliximab (Remicade) is also helpful in treating sarcoidosis. Potential side effects include congestive heart failure, blood disorders and lymphoma.
Organ transplant may be considered if sarcoidosis has severely damaged your lungs or liver.
Complications:
In about two-thirds of people with sarcoidosis, the condition resolves with no lasting consequences. But in some people, sarcoidosis can become chronic and lead to complications that may affect different parts of your body, such as your:
- Lungs. Untreated pulmonary sarcoidosis can lead to irreversible damage to the tissue between the air sacs in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
- Eyes. Inflammation can affect almost any part of your eye and can eventually cause blindness. Sarcoidosis can also cause cataracts and glaucoma. However, this is rare.
- Kidneys. Sarcoidosis can affect how your body handles calcium and this can result in kidney failure.
- Heart. Granulomas within your heart can interfere with the electrical signals that drive your heartbeat, which can cause abnormal heart rhythms and even death. This occurs very rarely.
- Nervous system. A small percentage of people with sarcoidosis develop problems related to the central nervous system when granulomas form in the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation in the facial nerves can cause facial paralysis.
- Reproductive system. In men, sarcoidosis can affect the testes and possibly cause infertility. Women with sarcoidosis may find it more difficult to conceive, and their signs and symptoms may worsen after delivery
