Sarcoidosis Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Information on MedicineNet.com

Font Size

Sarcoidosis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Slideshow

Fibromyalgia Friendly Exercises Slideshow

Treating Fibromyalgia Pain

Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Featured sarcoidosis patient discussions on experience with disease

"I am a 51 yr old black woman and I have sarcoidosis. I was misdiagnosed initially for 3 yrs. (1981 - 1984) my case was severe. At 24 yrs old I had sarcoid in my bones (from head to toe), my skin, and nasal passages. I was treated with prednisone for 20 years. At 24 yrs old, my joints were brittle and had holes. Granulomas formed on my face and I have had 3 surgeries on my tear ducts (both eyes). I happy to say my bones have rejuvenated, (medically impossible), I have flawless skin, and I can breathe thru my nose. I have been off prednisone to for 3 yrs. I�m now a beauty consultant and I feel good!

"I am a 52 year-old male. I have extreme shortness of breath on exertion, constant fatigue, night sweats, skin lesions, etc. I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 1998 after two years of tests, X-rays, CT scans, lymph node biopsies, you name it. I finally found a specialist who was able to figure out what was going on. He put me on Advair, prednisone, and an Albuterol inhaler. The prednisone went from declining dose regimens to a constant 25 mg per day to control my lung and skin lesions. After two years of this, I developed steroid diabetes and gained a lot of weight. He suggested the Cleveland Clinic Sarcoidosis Center. They now have me off the prednisone. I am now taking methotrexate, which seems to be controlling the disease."

"I am have been suffering from sarcoidosis for the past 6 years that I know of. It was discovered from a skin lesion, which I originally thought was a severe case of acne. I visited a dermatologist and was diagnosed with this dreaded disease. Since then I have encountered arthritic pain in most all my joints. I have broken two fingers and an elbow bone ( how do you break an elbow bone? -I don't know but I did) while working as a utility worker: All of which are directly related to the sarcoid. Currently, I am taking 5 prescription medications for the disease. My Bones are deteriorating, rapidly it would seem, and I am only 42 years old. If there any remedies that anyone is aware of, I would be very interested in knowing about them. "

Read All Sarcoidosis Comments »

Top Searched Sarcoidosis Terms:

skin picture, symptoms, lung, treatment, pulmonary, pancreatic, what is, brain,

Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment.
See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

What is sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is a disease that results from a specific type of inflammation of tissues of the body. It can appear in almost any body organ, but it starts most often in the lungs or lymph nodes.

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. The disease can appear suddenly and disappear. Or it can develop gradually and go on to produce symptoms that come and go, sometimes for a lifetime.

As sarcoidosis progresses, microscopic lumps of a specific form of inflammation, called granulomas, appear in the affected tissues. In the majority of cases, these granulomas clear up, either with or without treatment. In the few cases where the granulomas do not heal and disappear, the tissues tend to remain inflamed and become scarred (fibrotic).

Sarcoidosis was first identified over 100 years ago by two dermatologists working independently, Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson in England and Dr. Caesar Boeck in Norway. Sarcoidosis was originally called Hutchinson's disease or Boeck's disease. Dr. Boeck went on to fashion today's name for the disease from the Greek words "sark" and "oid," meaning flesh-like. The term describes the skin eruptions that are frequently caused by the illness.

What are symptoms of sarcoidosis?

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) and a cough that won't go away can be among the first symptoms of sarcoidosis. But sarcoidosis can also show up suddenly with the appearance of skin rashes. Red bumps (erythema nodosum) on the face, arms, or shins and inflammation of the eyes are also common symptoms.

It is not unusual, however, for sarcoidosis symptoms to be more general. Weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, fever, or just an overall feeling of ill health can also be clues to the disease.