is an immune system disorder characterised by non-necrotising
Granuloma s (small inflammatory nodules). Virtually any organ can be affected, however, granulomas most often appear in the
Lung s () or the
Lymph Nodes (). Symptoms can occasionally appear suddenly but more often than not appear gradually. When viewing
X-rays Of The Lungs , sarcoidosis can have the appearance of
Tuberculosis or
Lymphoma .
Sarcoidosis occurs throughout the world in any race. It is more commonly seen in people of
African descent than
Caucasians , primarily people of northern European descent in the latter case.
Pulmonary involvement is the most common presentation of sarcoidosis, but it can manifest in any organ.
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that can affect any organ. Common symptoms are vague, such as
Fatigue unchanged by sleep,
Lack Of Energy , aches and pains,
Arthralgia ,
Dry Eyes , blurry vision,
Shortness Of Breath , a dry hacking
Cough or skin lesions. The cutaneous symptoms are
Protean , and range from
Rash es and noduli (small bumps) to
Erythema Nodosum or
Lupus Pernio .
The combination of erythema nodosum, bilateral
Hilar Lymphadenopathy and
Arthralgia is called ''Lofgren syndrome''. This syndrome has a relatively good prognosis.
Renal, liver, heart or brain involvement may cause further symptoms and altered functioning. Manifestations in the eye include
Uveitis and retinal inflammation, which may result in loss of visual acuity or blindness. Sarcoidosis affecting the brain or nerves is known as
Neurosarcoidosis .
The combination of anterior uveitis,
Parotitis and fever is called Heerfordt-Waldenstrom syndrome. ()
Hypercalcemia (high
Calcium levels) and its symptoms may be the result of excessive
Vitamin D production.
Sarcoidosis most often manifests as a restrictive disease of the lungs, causing a decrease in
Lung Volume and decreased
Compliance (the ability to stretch). The disease typically limits the amount of air drawn into the lungs, but produces higher than normal expiratory flow ratios. The vital capacity (full breath in, to full breath out) is decreased, and most of this air can be blown out in the first second. This means the
FEV1/FVC Ratio is increased from the normal of about 80%, to 90%. Obstructive lung changes, causing a decrease in the amount of air that can be exhaled, may occur when enlarged lymph nodes in the chest externally compress airways or when internal inflammation or nodules impede airflow.
No direct cause of sarcoidosis has been identified, although there have been reports of cell wall deficient sPadilla ML, Schilero GJ, Teirstein AS. ''Donor-acquired sarcoidosis.'' Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2002;19:18-24. PMID 12002380..
Sarcoidosis frequently causes a dysregulation of that may include
Fatigue ,
Lack Of Strength or energy,
Irritability ,
Metallic Taste , temporary
Memory Loss or cognitive problems. Physiological compensatory responses (e.g. suppression of the
Parathyroid Hormone levels) may mean the patient does not develop frank hypercalcemia.
Corticosteroid s, most commonly
Prednisone , have been the standard treatment for many years. In some patients this treatment can slow or reverse the course of the disease, but other patients unfortunately do not respond to steroid therapy. The use of corticosteroids in mild disease is controversial because many times the disease can remit spontaneously. Additionally, corticoteroids have many recognized dose- and duration-related side effects, and their use has been linked to relapses and worsening of the diseaseGottlieb JE, Israel HL, Steiner RM, Triolo J, Patrick H. ''Outcome in sarcoidosis. The relationship of relapse to corticosteroid therapy.'' Chest 1997;111:623-31.
PDF . PMID 9118698..
Severe symptoms have generally been treated with steroids, and later with
Steroid-sparing Agent s. As the granulomas are caused by collections of immune system cells, particularly
T Cell s, there has been some early indications of success using immunosuppressants,
Interleukin-2 inhibitors or anti-
Tumor Necrosis Factor treatment (such as
Infliximab ). Unfortunately, none of these have provided reliable treatment and there can be signficant side effects such as an increased risk of reactivating latent
Tuberculosis .
Disciplined avoidance of sunlight and Vitamin D foods is necessary in patients who are prone to develop
Hypercalcemia and will help relieve symptoms in all sarcoidosis patients.
Antibiotic therapy has been reported to be effective for lung, lymph and cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosisBachelez H, Senet P, Cadranel J, Kaoukhov A, Dubertret L. ''The use of tetracyclines for the treatment of sarcoidosis.'' Arch Dermatol 2001;137:69-73. PMID 11176663. Marshall TG, Marshall FE. ''Sarcoidosis succumbs to antibiotics--implications for autoimmune disease.'' Autoimmun Rev 2004;3:295-300. PMID 15246025. but this therapy is not currently the standard of care. On March 28, 2006, the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development designated Minocycline in the treatment of sarcoidosis,
with the 'Autoimmunity Research Foundation'[http://autoimmunityresearch.org designated as the sponsor.
