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Sarcoidosis
Definition
Sarcoidosis is a disease that forms round spots called granulomas in organs in the body. The most common places they form are in the lungs and lymph nodes.
Causes
Inflammation is how the body acts toward an infection or injury. Inflammation should go away when you are healed. Inflammation does not pass in people with sarcoidosis. The cells that cause it stay and cause granulomas. It is not known why this happens. It may be due to genetics or the environment.
Risk Factors
Sarcoidosis is more common in women who are 20 to 40 years old. It is also more common in people of African and Northern European descent.
Other things that may raise your risk are:
- Family members with sarcoidosis
- Working or spending time in dusty or moldy environments
Symptoms
There may not be symptoms at first. Symptoms that happen depend on the organs that are involved. There may be:
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Tiredness
- Breathing problems, such as shortness of breath and wheezing
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Rapid heart beat
- Lightheadedness or vertigo
- Facial paralysis, such as Bell palsy
- Problems hearing, speaking, and swallowing
- Headache
- Seizures
| Bell Palsy |
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Diagnosis
You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
A biopsy may be done to look for granulomas.
Images may be taken to view your lungs and lymph nodes. This can be done with
Other tests may be done to see how well your organs are working. These may be:
- Blood and urine tests
- Eye exam
- ECG—to test heart health
- Pulmonary function tests—to test lung health
- MRI scan—to test nervous system
Treatment
There is no cure. Treatment is aimed at managing symptoms. Eye and lung exams will be needed to watch for changes over time. Treatment choices are:
Medication
These medicines may be used:
- Corticosteroids to ease inflammation
- Medicine to suppress the immune system
- Tumor necrosis factor antagonists to ease inflammation
- Antimicrobial drugs to treat skin problems
RESOURCES
American Lung Association
http://www.lung.org
http://www.lung.org
Arthritis Foundation
http://www.arthritis.org
http://www.arthritis.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
The Arthritis Society
http://www.arthritis.ca
http://www.arthritis.ca
The Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca
http://www.lung.ca
References
Explore sarcoidosis. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sarc. Accessed July 30, 2019.
Sarcoidosis. American Lung Association website. Available at:
http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/sarcoidosis. Accessed July 30, 2019.
Sarcoidosis in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116787/Sarcoidosis-in-adults. Updated November 21, 2019. Accessed July 30, 2019.
Sarcoidosis in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T316439/Sarcoidosis-in-children. Updated May 31, 2017. Accessed July 30, 2019.
6/14/2016 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116787/Sarcoidosis-in-adults: Soto-Gomez N, Peters JI, et al. Diagnosis and management of sarcoidosis. Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(10:840-848.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 06/2019
- Update Date: 10/23/2019
