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Sarcoidosis
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Sarcoidosis is a condition characterized by the presence of granulomas -- small bead-like patches of inflamed cells -- that often appear in the lungs and adjacent lymph nodes. Sarcoidosis can ... affect other tissues of the body, including the muscles, eyes, and skin. While most individuals with sarcoidosis have no symptoms at all, the condition can cause long-term organ damage, such as the abnormal formation of fiber-like scar tissue in the lung. This actually distorts the structure of the lungs and can interfere with breathing. Those who have a variation of the condition, called Lofgren's syndrome, may have symptoms that include swollen lymph nodes, fever, painful, reddened nodules, and joint pain. Lofgren's syndrome is found more frequently in people of Scandinavian, Irish, and Puerto Rican descent, and it generally tends to clear up on its own within 1 - 2 years.
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Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder that most often affects individuals between 20 and 40 years of age. Females appear to be affected more frequently than males. Sarcoidosis is characterized by the abnormal formation of inflammatory masses or nodules (granulomas) consisting of certain granular white blood cells (modified macrophages or epithelioid cells) in certain organs of the body. The granulomas that are formed are thought to alter the normal structure of and, potentially, the normal functions of, the affected organ(s), causing symptoms associated with the particular body system(s) in question. In individuals with sarcoidosis, such granuloma formation most commonly affects the lungs. However, in many cases, the upper respiratory system, lymph nodes, skin, and/or eyes may be involved.
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Sarcoidosis has an active and an inactive phase. In the active phase, the formation of granulomas can cause symptoms, and it can produce scar tissue leading to fibrosis. In the inactive phase, inflammation subsides, and the granulomas remain stable in size or they may shrink. However, scar tissue may cause symptoms. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and in many cases symptoms resolve within a few years. Alternately, symptoms may persist, arising as flares periodically, and in some cases sarcoidosis gradually worsens over time, causing permanent organ damage.
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Sarcoidosis most often manifests as a restrictive disease of the lungs, causing a decrease in lung volume and decreased compliance (the ability to stretch). The disease typically limits the amount of air drawn into the lungs, but produces higher than normal expiratory flow ratios. The vital capacity (full breath in, to full breath out) is decreased, and most of this air can be blown out in the first second. This means the FEV1/FVC ratio is increased from the normal of about 80%, to 90%. Obstructive lung changes, causing a decrease in the amount of air that can be exhaled, may occur when enlarged lymph nodes in the chest compress airways or when internal inflammation or nodules impede airflow.
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Sarcoidosis most often occurs between 20 and 40 years of age, and is diagnosed more often in women than in men. The disease is 10 to 17 times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians. People of Scandinavian, German, Irish, or Puerto Rican origin are ... more prone to the disease. It is estimated that up to 4 in 10,000 people in the United States have sarcoidosis.
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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.
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Sarcoidosis