ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Sarcoidosis

What is Sarcoidosis?

21:55 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

It is a condition in which the body’s immune cells form abnormal tissue masses called granulomas that mainly affect the lungs and lymph nodes, but can also cause heart, eye, skin, and liver damage, among others. So far the origin of this disease is unknown, but some studies indicate that it is due to a reaction of the immune system to the presence of bacteria or viruses, certain proteins, dust, and some chemical substances.

Signs and symptoms Sarcoidosis

The symptoms depend on the damaged organ. Sometimes there may be no symptoms or other times they may appear and disappear suddenly, but the usual signs are:

  • Joint inflammation and pain.
  • Tiredness.
  • High fever.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.
  • Decreased body weight.

Lungs:

  • Breathing problems.
  • Sore chest
  • Wheezing
  • Dry coughing fits.

Skin:

  • Injuries to the nose, cheekbones, and ears.
  • Hair loss.
  • Presence of nodules under the skin, around scars, or tattoos.
  • Reddish rashes on the legs and ankles.
  • Darkening or lightening in some areas.

Eyes:

  • Itch.
  • Dryness.
  • Pain.
  • Irritation.
  • Photosensitivity.
  • Unfocused vision.

Heart:

  • Arrhythmia.
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Dyspnea.
  • Sore chest
  • Edema.
  • Tiredness.
  • Palpitations.

Possible complications of sarcoidosis are:

  • Pulmonary hypertension.
  • Pulmonary fibrosis.
  • Cataracts.
  • Glaucoma.
  • Blindness.
  • Kidney stones.
  • Kidney failure.
  • Heart failure.
  • Facial paralysis.

Diagnosis and treatment Sarcoidosis

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical examination that will help check if the lymph nodes are swollen and if there are skin lesions. You will also require blood and urine tests, imaging studies such as chest x-rays, EKG, MRI, CT scan, echocardiogram, vision, and pulmonary function tests.

In addition, if deemed necessary, they will require tissue biopsies. Treatment is based on controlling the symptoms of the affected organs, either with corticosteroids or drugs that suppress the immune system, specific rehabilitation therapies, surgery, and in more severe cases, organ transplant.

At the ABC Medical Center Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, of chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments

Cancer Center
Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • linforeuma.com
  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • cun.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Reyes LGA, Frías PR, Basulto QN, et al. Tomografía por emisión de positrones en el diagnóstico de sarcoidosis y síndrome de Löfgren. Rev Cub de Reu. 2020;22(Suppl: 1).
  • Roig-Marín N, Roig-Rico P, Chazarra-Pérez P, et al. Sarcoidosis gástrica. Med Int Mex. 2021;37(1):140-143.
  • Salame-Waxman D, Espinola-Zavaleta N, Carvajal-Juárez I, et al. Sarcoidosis cardíaca: epidemiología, diagnóstico y tratamiento . Anales de Radiología México. 2019;18(3):168-176.
  • González HJA, Mendoza FR, Durán HM, et al. Sarcoidosis intestinal. Presentación de un caso. 16 de abril. 2017;56(263):32-35.

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