LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Sarcoidosis: Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
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Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause affecting young and middle-aged adults. Patients commonly present with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary infiltrates, and ocular and skin lesions. The heart, liver, spleen, salivary glands, muscles, bones, kidneys, and central nervous system ... may be involved. Diagnosis is based on clinicoradiologic findings plus histologic evidence of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas, and exclusion of other granulomatous diseases. Prognosis correlates with mode of onset, host characteristics, initial clinical course, and extent of disease. The optimal management of sarcoidosis has not been well defined.
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Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder of unknown etiology that most commonly affects adults between 20 and 40 years of age. Patients with sarcoidosis frequently present with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and pulmonary infiltration, and often with ocular and skin lesions. The diagnosis is established when clinical and radiographic findings are supported by histologic evidence of non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas found on tissue biopsy. Diagnosis of sarcoidosis requires exclusion of other causes of granuloma formation.
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Sarcoidosis often remits spontaneously and may have a course of several months or years before clearing up. Remission rates are as high as 85% after 9 years, and the remission rate for groups of patients appears to depend on both the disease site and genetic background. About 10% of patients develop serious disability, such as ocular damage, respiratory impairment, or liver damage, but the mortality is low (rated as less than 3%), and is primarily associated with the pulmonary development of the disease.
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The Sarcoidosis Clinic provides patient care based on state-of-the-art clinical practice and translational/clinical research. The Sarcoidosis Clinic is part of the Boston University Pulmonary Center, which has extensive Research and Clinical programs in Molecular and Cell Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, and Epidemiology. All clinical care is provided at Boston Medical Center, where a full range of Medical, Surgical and Radiologic subspecialists are available. Research is supported by grants from the NIH and private donations from patients, families, or organizations committed to advancement of sarcoidosis care. This support allows The Sarcoidosis Clinic to provide a broad range of services to patients and their families.
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Use of Pulmicort as a Systemic Corticosteroid Sparing Agent for Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the inhaled steroid budesonide (Pulmicort) can reduce the amount of prednisone needed to control pulmonary sarcoid. This study is being conducted at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
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Sarcoidosis is characterized by formation of granuloma - collections of immune cells. However, it is important to note that there is often a close resemblence between Sarcoidosis and several other granulomatous disorders, including tuberculosis. The formation of granulomas -and the tissue damage so caused -are the typical indicators of Sarcoidosis. Pulmonary sarcoidosis usually causes increased lung stiffness and, therefore, results in loss of lung capacity.
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Pulmonary Sarcoidosis