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Sarcoidosis

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Sarcoid, stage I - chest X-ray
Sarcoid, stage I - chest X-ray
Sarcoid, stage II - chest X-ray
Sarcoid, stage II - chest X-ray
Sarcoid, stage IV - chest X-ray
Sarcoid, stage IV - chest X-ray
Sarcoid - close-up of the skin lesions
Sarcoid - close-up of the skin lesions
Erythema nodosum associated with sarcoidosis
Erythema nodosum associated with sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis - close-up
Sarcoidosis - close-up
Sarcoidosis on the elbow
Sarcoidosis on the elbow
Sarcoidosis on the nose and forehead
Sarcoidosis on the nose and forehead
Respiratory system
Respiratory system

Definition    Return to top

Sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown cause in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, or other tissues.

Causes    Return to top

The cause of the disease is unknown. Sarcoidosis is marked by abnormal inflammatory masses (granulomas) in certain organs of the body. Granulomas are clusters of immune cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells). The disease can affect almost any organ of the body, although it most commonly affects the lungs. Sarcoidosis can be acute, subacute, or chronic.

Possible causes of sarcoidosis include:

The incidence varies widely according to race and sex.

It is more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Females are usually affected more frequently than males. Onset of the disease typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. Sarcoidosis is very rare in young children.

Symptoms    Return to top

Additional symptoms of this disease:

Note: There may be no symptoms. Most of the time, the disease is found in patients with no symptoms who have an abnormal chest x-ray.

Exams and Tests    Return to top

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

Treatment    Return to top

Sarcoidosis symptoms often resolve on their own gradually without treatment.

Severely affected patients may need treatment with corticosteroids. Therapy may continue for one or two years. Some of the most severely affected patients may require life-long therapy.

Immunosuppressive agents, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide, are sometimes used in addition to corticosteroids. Rarely, some individuals with irreversible organ failure require an organ transplant.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

Many people are not seriously ill, and the disease may resolve without treatment. About 30 - 50% of cases resolve without treatment in 3 years. About 20% of those with lung involvement will develop lung damage. Death from sarcoidosis is rare.

Possible Complications    Return to top

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call your health care provider if you have difficulty breathing, vision changes, palpitations, or other symptoms of this disorder.

References    Return to top

Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders; 2003.

Cox CE, Donohue JF, Brown CD, Kataria YP, Judson MA. Health-related quality of life of persons with sarcoidosis. Chest. March 2004;125:997-1004.

Cox CE, Davis-Allen A, Judson MA. Sarcoidosis. Med Clin North Am. July 2005;89:817-828.

Update Date: 3/1/2007

Updated by: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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