Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis (sar”koi’do’sis) is a complex disease for which the cause and cure are unknown. Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body. The lumps are called granulomas (gran”u-lo’mahs) because under the microscope they look like grains of sugar or sand. When these granulomas invade the body they can cause permanent damage to the affected organ. The prevalence of the disease is approximately 800/100,000. Sarcoidosis is most often treated with the steroid, prednisone for which there are numerous adverse side effects. Sarcoidosis affects each patient differently. Lucky patients experience minimal symptoms with little change to their lifestyles. Thousands of others are totally debilitated by the disease, decreasing their energy. It has been fatal to many. Sarcoidosis can occur in almost any part of your body, including:

  • Lungs
  • Lymph nodes
  • Skin
  • Eyes
  • Liver
  • Spleen
  • Brain
  • Nerves
  • Heart
  • Tear glands
  • Sailvary glands
  • Bones and joints
  • Thyroid gland
  • Breasts
  • Kidneys
  • Reproductive Organs

For more information about sarcoidosis, please visit the following sites:
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Diseases and Conditions Index: Sarcoidosis

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/sarc/sar_whatis.html
National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Sarcoidosis Fact Sheet:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/other/sarcoidosis/index.htm
http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org

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