Sarcoidosis
Overview
Sarcoidosis is a rare condition that causes small patches of swollen tissue, called granulomas, to develop in the organs of the body. It often affects the lungs and lymph nodes, and can also affect your skin.
Symptoms
It's impossible to predict how sarcoidosis will affect a person, as the condition can affect any organ and the symptoms vary widely depending on which organs are involved. Most people with sarcoidosis develop symptoms suddenly, but these usually clear within a few months or years and the condition does not come back. This is known as acute sarcoidosis. Some people do not have any symptoms at all, and the condition is diagnosed after anX-raycarried out for another reason. A few people find their symptoms develop gradually and get worse over time, to the point where they become severely affected. Lots of granulomas may form in an organ and prevent it from working properly. This is known as chronic sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis most often affects the lungs, skin and lymph nodes (glands). The lungs are affected in about 9 out of 10 of people with sarcoidosis. This is known as pulmonary sarcoidosis. The main symptoms are shortness of breath and a persistent dry cough. Some people with pulmonary sarcoidosis experience pain and discomfort in their chest, but this is uncommon. The skin is also affected in many people with sarcoidosis. This can cause tender bumps or patches to develop on the skin (particularly the lower legs and arms), as well as bumps on the upper body. These can be reddish-brown or purple, depending on your skin colour and the type of sarcoidosis you have. If other organs are affected, you may also have some of the following symptoms: tender andswollen glandsin the face, neck, armpits or grointiredness and a general feeling of being unwellpainful jointsred or sore eyesanabnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)a blocked or stuffy nosepain in the boneskidney stonesheadache
Causes
The exact cause of sarcoidosis is not known. Possible causes include: exposure to substances in the environment – such as mould, wood stoves, soil, tree pollen, insecticides, silica and other substancesviral or bacterial infectionsgenetics – as sarcoidosis is more common in certain groups of people, such as African-Americans, and in certain areas of the world, such as Scandinaviathe body’s immune system attacking its own tissues and organs (autoimmunity) Sarcoidosis can occasionally occur in more than one family member, but there's no evidence that the condition is inherited. The condition is not infectious, so it cannot be passed from person to person.
Treatment
If treatment is recommended,steroid tabletsare usually used. This helps relieve symptoms and prevent damage to affected organs by reducing inflammation and preventing scarring. However, steroid tablets can cause side effects such as weight gain and mood swings if taken in high doses. Other side effects, such as weakening of the bones (osteoporosis), can also develop if steroids are taken for a long time. Therefore, they're only used when necessary. You may initially be given a high dose of steroid medicine for a short period of time, before switching to a low dose for the months or years that follow. Your condition will be monitored during this time to see how well the treatment is working. In some cases, taking calcium or vitamin D supplements can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis caused by long-term use of steroid medicine. However, you should only take these if advised to by a doctor. Some people with sarcoidosis may have an increased risk of developing complications, including kidney stones, while taking steroid medicine. Other medicines may sometimes be used if steroids are not enough or there are concerns about side effects. In these cases, a medicine called an immunosuppressant might be recommended. This may help to improve your symptoms by reducing the activity of your immune system.