WHAT IS SARCOIDOSIS: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, DIAGNOSIS, AND MORE

Sarcoidosis most commonly affects the lungs and can result in lung complications such as:

• Chronic dry cough

• Breathing difficulty

• Wheezing

• Chest ache

Sarcoidosis can result in skin concerns such as:

A rash of red or reddish-purple pimples on the shins or ankles that may be warm and sensitive to touch.

Sores (lesions) on the nose, cheeks, and ears that are unsightly

Skin that is darker or lighter in hue.

Under-skin growths (nodules), notably near scars or tattoos

Eye symptoms

Sarcoidosis may harm the eyes without creating symptoms, thus it is critical to have your eyes evaluated on a frequent basis. When eye signs and symptoms do emerge, they may include the following:

• Vision impairment

• Eye ache

• Itching, burning, or dry eyes

• Severe erythema

• Light sensitivity

Signs and symptoms of cardiac sarcoidosis include:

• Chest ache

• Fatigue

• Heartbeat irregularities (arrhythmias)

• Breathing difficulty (dyspnea)

• Weakness (syncope)

• A fast or fluttering heartbeat (palpitations)

• Excess fluid causes swelling (edema)

Sarcoidosis can also impact calcium metabolism, the neurological system, the liver and spleen, muscles, bones, and joints, kidneys, lymph nodes, and any other organ.

The specific etiology of sarcoidosis is unknown. Some people appear to be genetically predisposed to the condition, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, dust, or chemicals.

This causes your immune system to overreact, and immune cells begin to gather in a pattern of inflammation known as granulomas. When granulomas accumulate in an organ, its function might be compromised.

While anybody can develop sarcoidosis, the following variables may raise your risk:

• Age and gender: Sarcoidosis can strike at any age, although it is most common between the ages of 20 and 60. Women are somewhat more likely than males to get the condition.

• Race: Sarcoidosis is more common in those of African heritage and those of Northern European descent. Other organs, in addition to the lungs, are more likely to be involved in African-Americans.

• Family history: You are more likely to get sarcoidosis if someone in your family has had the condition.

Sarcoidosis can sometimes produce long-term difficulties.

• Lungs: Untreated pulmonary sarcoidosis can cause permanent scarring in your lungs (pulmonary fibrosis), making breathing difficult and occasionally resulting in pulmonary hypertension.

• Eyes: Inflammation may affect practically any area of the eye and can cause retinal damage, which can lead to blindness. Sarcoidosis can occasionally induce cataracts and glaucoma.

• Kidneys: Sarcoidosis can alter how your body manages calcium, resulting in kidney stones and decreased kidney function. In rare cases, this might result in renal failure.

• Heart: Cardiac sarcoidosis causes granulomas in the heart, which can interfere with cardiac rhythm, blood flow, and proper heart function. In rare cases, this might result in death.

• The nervous system: When granulomas grow in the brain and spinal cord, a tiny proportion of persons with sarcoidosis experience central nervous system disorders. Face paralysis can result from inflammation of the facial nerves, for example.

Sarcoidosis can be difficult to diagnose since it generally manifests with minimal signs and symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they may be mistaken for those of other illnesses.

Your doctor will most likely begin with a physical examination and a discussion of your symptoms. He or she will also carefully listen to your heart and lungs, look for swelling in your lymph nodes, and inspect any skin abnormalities.

Diagnostic testing can help rule out other conditions and pinpoint which bodily systems sarcoidosis may impact. Your doctor may advise you to get tests such as:

• Blood and urine tests to check your overall health and the function of your kidneys and liver

• A chest X-ray will be performed to examine your lungs and heart.

• Chest computed tomography (CT) scan to examine your lungs

• Lung (pulmonary) function tests are used to determine lung volume and the amount of oxygen your lungs provide to your blood.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is used to detect and monitor cardiac abnormalities.

• Eye exam to rule out sarcoidosis-related vision impairment.

• If your sarcoidosis appears to be damaging your heart or central nervous system, you should get a PET scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

If necessary, further tests may be introduced.

Biopsies

Your doctor may request that a tiny sample of tissue (biopsy) be obtained from a portion of your body suspected of having sarcoidosis in order to search for the granulomas that are typically observed with the disorder. Biopsies, for example, can be collected from your skin if you have skin lesions, as well as from your lungs and lymph nodes if necessary.

There is no treatment for sarcoidosis, however disease often resolves on its own. If you have no or very minor symptoms of the illness, you may not even require therapy. The severity and scope of your ailment will decide if and how therapy is required.

If your symptoms are severe or your organ function is jeopardized, you will most likely be medicated. These might include:

• Corticosteroids: These potent anti-inflammatory medications are typically used as the first-line therapy for sarcoidosis. Corticosteroids can be administered directly to an afflicted region in some situations, such as a skin lesion or drops in the eyes.

• Immune suppressing medications: Methotrexate (Trexall) and azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran) medications lessen inflammation by inhibiting the immune system.

• Hydroxychloroquine: Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) may be beneficial in the treatment of skin lesions and high blood calcium levels.

• Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors: These drugs are often used to treat the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. They may also be beneficial in the treatment of sarcoidosis that has not responded to prior therapies.

Other drugs may be used to address particular symptoms or problems.

Other therapies may be suggested based on your symptoms or problems. Physical therapy, for example, may be used to reduce tiredness and enhance muscular strength, pulmonary rehabilitation to minimize respiratory symptoms, or an implanted cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator to treat heart rhythms.

The frequency with which you visit your doctor depends on your symptoms and therapy. Even if you don’t require treatment, it’s crucial to see your doctor on a frequent basis.

Your doctor will keep track of your symptoms, assess the efficacy of therapies, and look for any consequences. Depending on your situation, monitoring may entail frequent testing. Regular chest X-rays, lab and urine tests, EKGs, and inspections of the lungs, eyes, skin, and any other organs implicated, for example. Follow-up care may be required for the rest of one’s life.

If your lungs, heart, or liver have been badly affected by sarcoidosis, an organ transplant may be considered.

In addition to therapy, the following self-care tips may be beneficial:

• Take your medicine exactly as directed. Even if you begin to feel better, do not discontinue your medicine without first consulting your doctor. Maintain all follow-up visits and continuous monitoring. Inform your doctor if you notice any new symptoms.

• Choose a healthy way of living. Eating a nutritious diet, keeping a healthy weight, controlling stress, and getting enough sleep are some examples.

• Engage in frequent physical activity. Regular physical activity may enhance mood, strengthen muscles, and assist minimize weariness, which can interfere with everyday tasks.