Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease (autoimmune disease) where your immune system overreacts, causing groups of cell to forms clusters of inflamed tissues called ‘granulomas’.

The affected organs are usually the lungs with lymph nodes (9 of the cases), eyes, skin, heart, nervous system, spleen and liver. 

This is a very rare disease, 55/100 000 people is affected. 

There is different stages for Sarcoidosis, where the lower stages will mostly resolve with no treatment and not seen on xrays.

Stage 1:

Enlargement of lymph nodes in centre of the chest. Very little symptoms, which can resolved by itself. If there is symptoms, it will be fevers, joint pain and night sweats. This stage is also called Lofgren Syndrome. 

Stage 2:

Enlargement of lymph nodes in the centre of the chest and nodules in the lungs from granulomas. 

Stage 3:

Granulomas which is present in the lung tissues only

Stage 4: 

Pulmonary fibrosis is permanent scarring of the lung tissues. At this 4^th stage, there will be irreversible damage.

Causes

This causes is unknown, but research has shown the following:

• It may be genetic: more common in women than men. 
• Dusty, moldy environment
• Age : 30-50years 
• Reaction on medication: HIV and Cancer treatment
• Exposure to burn pits during military deployment 
• Certain chemical exposure
• Made be a side effect of long term steroid treatment

Symptoms: 

• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain and swelling in joints (ankle)

Tests:

There is test that can be done to confirm Sarcoidosis

• X-rays
• CT Scans
• Biopsy 
• Endoscope
• Pulmonary Function tests
• Broncho-alveolar Lavage test
• Blood tests (to check the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in blood, to evaluate liver and kidney function, test for infection and other diseases

Living with Sarcoidosis:

• No cigarette or ‘vape’  smoking
• Balanced diet
• To decrease your stress (control your stress)
• To Join a Support Group

Health care:

To insure Sarcoidosis is in controlled and monitored, a multi-health discipline is a very wide treatment. 

Cardiologist, Pulmonologist, Endocrinologist, Physiotherapy and Biokineticists is the best option to keep these patients healthy, and to keep a good quality of life.