Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation produces tiny lumps of cells in organs throughout the body. The lumps, called granulomas, most often appear in the lungs, but they also can occur in the lymph nodes, eyes, skin or other areas of the body.

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. The disease can affect people of every race, sex and age. Sarcoidosis is more common in African-Americans, and those of German, Irish, Scandinavian, Asian and Puerto Rican origin. It appears most often in young people between 20 and 40 years of age. It is not contagious.

Many people with sarcoidosis do not have any symptoms. Others have only vague symptoms that can be seen in many other illnesses, such as weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, depression, night sweats, and sleep problems. Symptoms that may come from problems with a specific organ include :
Lungs:- Shortness of breath, wheezing or dry cough that may disappear over time.
Eyes:- Burning, itching, tearing, redness, sensitivity to light, dryness, seeing black spots, blurred vision, reduced color vision, and, in rare cases, blindness.
Skin:- Bumps, ulcers, or rarely, flat areas of discolored skin that appear mostly near the nose or eyes or on the back, arms, legs and scalp. Painful and tender bumps can also appear on the ankles and shins.
Bones and Joints:- Bone lumps (nodules), causing pain in the hands and feet and sometimes pain and swelling in the ankles or other joints
Heart: -Shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, wheezing, coughing, and chest pain. One may have a feeling of an irregular or fast heart beat at times, or even pass out without warning.

For some sarcoidosis patients, their condition will improve without any treatment. Those who do need treatment are given medicine to reduce inflammation and slow the growth of the granulomas. Treatment is aimed at maintaining good lung function, reducing symptoms and preventing organ damage. Medications for sarcoidosis include: Corticosteroids. The most common orticosteroid prescribed for sarcoidosis is prednisone. Other newer drugs include methotrexate and infliximab.