Sar-Coy-Doe-Sis
Sarcoidosis is a Multi-Systemic Inflammatory Disease of unknown origin that produces inflamed tissue that form into grain-like lumps called Granulomas with the ability to affect any system &/or organ in the body (eyes, heart, skin, kidneys, nervous system, etc.) but it most commonly attacks the lungs and causes enlarging of the lymph nodes. Sarcoidosis affects people of ALL ages, ethnic backgrounds, nationalities and both genders. Currently there is No Known Cure!
Get the Facts
What causes Sarcoidosis?
No one knows! However researchers believe that Sarcoidosis might be caused by the body's immune system reacting to something environmental such as; Bacteria, Checmicals, Dust, Mold or possibly a Virus but a definite cause remains unclear.
Who can get Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis is a Worldwide concern! Anyone can be affected by Sarcoidosis ... It doesn't matter what race, ethnic background, gender or age (although most commonly detected in people between the ages of 20 to 40 years old)!
What are the symptoms of Sarcoidosis?
Oftentimes people with Sarcoidosis don't realize they have the disease because they don't exhibit any known symptoms. In this case the diagnosis is usually made accidentally via an unrelated chest x-ray.
The effects of Sarcoidosis vary from person to person but common symptoms include but are not limited to:
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Extreme Fatigue
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Shortness of breath.
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A dry cough that doesn't produce any mucus or phlegm.
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Chest pain.
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Enlarged &/or tender lymph nodes.
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Skin lesions &/or bumps.
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Sore Eyes or Sensitivity to Light, Blurred Vison, Floaters (spots) &/or Sudden Blindness.
How is Sarcoidosis detected?
Detecting Sarcoidosis can often be tricky. Quite often, doctors must rule out other diseases before confirming a Sarcoidosis diagnosis. However common test used in the diagnostic process include but are not limited to:
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Chest X-Ray
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CT Scans
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Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
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Mediastinoscopy
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Tissue Biopsy
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Lab Tests (including Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Blood Test)
What medications &/or treatments are used to manage Sarcoidosis?
Currently there aren't any drugs or treatments approved &/or tagged specifically for Sarcoidosis treatment, however the following medications have been used to treat various symptoms in different stages of the disease:
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Prednisone or Dexamethasone which are Oral Corticosteroid Medications.
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Hydroxychloroquine & Chloroquine are Oral Antimalarial Drugs which are used to treat Sarcoidosis of the skin, lungs & nervous system.
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Methotrexate & Azathioprine are used instead of or in addition to Corticosteroids to treat pulmonary and chronic Sarcoidosis.
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Cyclophosphamide & Chlorambucil are used in severe stages of the disease, when other medications have failed to be effective.
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Pentoxifylline & Thalidomide have been reported to have beneficial effects of treatment-resistant Lupus Pernio.
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Infliximab (Remicade) or Adalimumab (Humira) and Etanercept (Enbrel) are medications given by intravenous injection under the skin once a month, once again in severe cases of Sarcoidosis when other medications have been unsuccessful.
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Colchicine is an oral medication used to treat Sarcoidosis related arthritis.
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NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen to help reduce inflammation, fever and relieve joint pain.
There are also Natural Alternative Options out there as well that can be effective in managing some symptoms caused by Sarcoidosis such as inflammation & pain. You can find alternative health managment tips in our "For Your Health" section of the ASFL website.
What are the stages of Sarcoidosis & how is a person's stage determined?
"Stages" as it pertains to Sarcoidosis can be very misleading, as this term does not pertain to all types of Sarcoidosis; it's only significant with respect to Pulmonary Sarcoidosis (lung involvement).
It's important to know that Sarcoidosis cases don't always go from mild to serious in a noticeable manner ... Stage I does not always progress to stage two, three etc. Stages do not imply progression, rather just patterns seen on chest films.
Between Stages I & II there usually aren't significant differences in symptoms, pulmonary function tests or prognosis. Generally, patients in Stages III & IV exhibit the worse symptoms and prognosis but on occasion, their chest film overestimates their symptoms.
There are four (4) Stages of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis:
Stage 0 -
Patients display a "normal" x-ray.
Stage I -
Patients have enlarged lymph nodes in the middle of the chest (Thoracic Lymphadenopathy) but may not exhibit any symptoms & usually don't have any lung involvment.
Stage II -
Patients have enlarged lymph nodes/glands in the middle of the chest (Thoracic Lymphadenopathy), abnormal lung findings on chest x-ray films (which means there is lung & node involvement) but they may or may not exhibit any symptoms.
Stage III -
Patients have abnormal lung findings on chest x-ray films but the lymph nodes/glands in the middle of the chest are not enlarged. These findings suggests that the disease has progressed and the symptoms are more severe.
Stages IV -
Patients have deterioration of the lung with damage to upper lobes and formation of scar tissue (irreversible lung disease). This can be determined by loss of lung function, fibrosis (scarring in the lungs) and progressive dyspnea (difficulty breathing).
Is Sarcoidosis contagious &/or is it hereditary?
Sarcoidosis is not contagious and can not be transmitted from person to person like a virus or common cold!
All though there are cases in families where Sarcoidosis has affected more than one family member, it is not a transmittable disease.
However, research is still being done to determine if there is a genetic predisposition coupled with certain environmental exposures that might be the causing factor but researchers don't know for sure.
Are there any dietary precautions I should adhere to having Sarcoidosis?
An estimated one in ten patients experience high blood calcium levels. This core group of Sarcoidosis patients should avoid calcium rich foods such as milk, & cheese as well as supplements/vitamins containing calcium.
Patients should also be careful about spending time in direct sunlight due to the over absorption of Vitamin D from the sun causing adverse effects.
What is the difference in Lupus & Sarcoidosis?
To fully understand the differences between Lupus & Sarcoidosis you have to know that the definition of Autoimmune is: A disorder when ones immune system cannot decipher the difference between the body’s healthy tissue and foreign invaders (viruses, bacteria & germs) then creates autoantibodies ("auto" means "self") that causes inflammation, pain and mistakenly attacks and destroys its own healthy tissue in different parts of the body.
Lupus is a Chronic Auto-Immune Disease. In people with Lupus something goes wrong with the immune system where it can’t tell the difference between foreign substances and the body’s healthy tissues causing it to become hyperactive and attack the normal, healthy tissue. This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs.
Sarcoidosis is a Systemic Inflammatory Disease of unknown origin but believed to be brought on by an abnormal response of the body’s immune system resulting in inflammation.
A normal immune system: Defends your body against harmful substances by sending special cells to protect the organs in danger. These cells release chemicals that recruit other cells to isolate and destroy the harmful substance but during this process inflammation occurs. In a normal immune system, once the harmful substance is gone the cells and the inflammation go away.
In people with Sarcoidosis; the inflammation doesn't go away. Instead, the inflamed tissue clump together and form grain-like lumps called Granulomas (gran-yu-LO-mas)
or nodules harboring the ability to affect any part of the body. This results in symptoms such as extreme fatigue, chronic dry cough, joint pain and potential damage to the Lungs, Kidneys, Liver, Joints, Eyes, Skin & Central Nervous System (including the Brain).
Both Lupus & Sarcoidosis are known for their erratic characteristics of patients experiencing alternating periods of being asymptomatic (void of symptoms) and
periods of mild to severe flare-ups (exacerbations) without warning.
Is there a cure for Sarcoidosis?
As of today researchers do not know the cause of Sarcoidosis & currently there is No Known Cure!
For additional questions and answers look for links to brochures and other websites listed throughout the ASFL website.