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Sarcoidosis: Diseases
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Sarcoidosis is an uncommon disease that most frequently involves the lungs and lymph nodes, but can affect virtually any part of the body. In most cases, sarcoidosis causes minimal symptoms and requires no specific treatment. However, serious complications can arise when sarcoidosis becomes very active in the brain, eyes, heart or lungs and in individuals who develop disfiguring skin manifestations. These patients often respond to appropriate therapy. It is often difficult to predict who will eventually require treatment or how long treatment will be required. For this reason, it is currently recommended that patients with sarcoidosis see their doctor at least once a year, even if they are feeling well, and more frequently if they are exper (More)
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Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory systemic autoimmune disease first described in the late 1860s. Sarcoidosis is characterized by small lumps of cells known as granulomas. These granulomas, which are produced in response to inflammation, are granular in appearance, and can, normally, only be seen with the aid of a microscope. Histologically, these granulomas are composed of epithelial cells and are not contained within capsules. When many granulomas arise in close proximity and clump together in one organ, they can interfere with the organ’s function.
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Sarcoidosis mainly affects women aged 20 to 40, but can occur at any age in either sex. It is ... more common in African-Americans and in people of Scandinavian, German, Irish and Puerto Rican descent. Compared with Caucasians, African-Americans are at significantly increased risk for development of this disease. They also are at greater risk for developing sarcoidosis that can last for years and produce severe symptoms. Although most cases affecting the lungs resolve regardless of treatment, in 20 to 30 percent of cases permanent lung damage will occur. This can reduce a person’s quality of life.
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Sarcoidosis causes inflammation of tissues, and mostly occurs in 20 to 40 years old Northern Europeans and American blacks. The exact cause of this disease has still remained unknown. Considering that Sarcoidosis primarily occurs in lungs/respiratory system... it is quite likely that sarcoidosis may be caused by a virus, a bacteria or an environmental toxic substance that a patient may have inhaled. Unlike most lung diseases, sarcoidosis is more likely to occur in nonsmokers than in cigarette smokers.
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Sarcoidosis is characterized by noncaseating epithelioid granulomas that may affect any organ system. Although Jonathan Hutchinson described the first case in 1869, the etiology of the disease is still unknown. The disease most commonly involves granuloma formation in the lungs. Other commonly involved organ systems include the lymph nodes (especially the intrathoracic nodes); the skin; the eyes; the liver; the heart; and the nervous, musculoskeletal, renal, and endocrine systems.
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Sarcoidosis is most common in adults between 20 and 40 years of age. It's more common in women than in men. In the United States, it occurs more often in blacks than in whites. Sarcoidosis is not contagious. This means you can't catch sarcoidosis from another person who has the disease.
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