Sarcoidosis / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Sarcoidosis

Synonyms of Sarcoidosis

Sarcoid of Boeck
Schaumann's Disease

Disorder Subdivisions

Acute Sarcoidosis; Heerferdt-Waldenstrom and Lofgren's Syndromes (Included)
Chronic Sarcoidosis
Subacute Sarcoidosis

General Discussion
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. In addition, in some cases, other organs may be affected, including the liver, bone marrow, spleen, musculoskeletal system, heart, salivary glands, and/or nervous system (i.e., central or peripheral nervous system).

The range and severity of symptoms associated with sarcoidosis vary greatly, depending upon the specific organ(s) involved and the degree of such involvement. In some cases, the symptoms of sarcoidosis may begin suddenly (acute), sometimes severely, and subside in a relatively short period of time (self limited). Acute sarcoidosis is often characterized by fatigue, fever, generalized muscle aches, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), joint pain, swollen glands, skin eruptions, eye irregularities, and/or other symptoms. In the subacute form, affected individuals may experience no symptoms (asymptomatic), even with organ involvement. In the chronic form of sarcoidosis, symptoms may appear slowly and subtly, and may persist or recur over a long time span. Initial symptoms of the chronic form of the disorder may include difficulty breathing (dyspnea), dry cough, limited airflow, and other respiratory abnormalities. Symptoms associated with other organ involvement may follow.

The exact cause of sarcoidosis is not known. However, possible infectious, environmental, genetic, and immunological factors are under investigation as potential causes of the disorder.
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Organizations related to Sarcoidosis

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe MI 48021
Phone #: 586-776-3900
800 #: 800-598-4668
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.aarda.org/
American Lung Association
61 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York NY 10006
Phone #: 212-315-8700
800 #: 800-586-4872
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.lungusa.org
AutoImmunity Community
None
None None None
Phone #: (91-9) -552-9057
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org
Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick NJ 08723
Phone #: 732-664-9259
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.aininc.org
Erythema Nodosum Yahoo Support Group
None
None None None
Phone #: N/A
800 #: N/A
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erythema_nodosum_Group/
European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Hertogenbosch None 5200 ME's
Phone #: +31- 73--6992965
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.esid.org
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700
Chicago IL 60603
Phone #: 312-341-0500
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org
Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
Chicago IL 60637
Phone #: 773-702-5800
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://millercenter.uchicago.edu
Janine Sarcoidosis Outreach Foundation
12600 Bissonnet
Houston TX 77099
Phone #: 832-248-6621
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.jsof.org
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda MD 20892-3675
Phone #: 301-495-4484
800 #: 877-226-4267
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info
NIH/National Eye Institute
Building 31 Rm 6A32
Bethesda MD 20892-2510
Phone #: 301-496-5248
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.nei.nih.gov/
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda MD 20824-0105
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: N/A
National Sarcoidosis Resource Center
P.O. Box 1593
Piscataway NJ 08855-1593
Phone #: 732-469-4087
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.nsrc-global.net
Sarcoidosis Center
6005 Park Ave
Memphis TN 38119
Phone #: 901-761-5877
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.sarcoidcenter.com
Sarcoidosis Networking Association
6201 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma WA 98408
Phone #: 253-826-7737
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.sarcoidosisnetwork.org
Sarcoidosis Online Sites: A Comprehensive Source for Sarcoidosis Information on the Internet
None
None None None
Phone #: --
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.sarcoidosisonlinesites.com
Sarcoidosis Research Institute
3475 Central Avenue
Memphis TN 38111
Phone #: 901-219-6883
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.sarcoidosisresearch.org/
Uveitis/OID Support Group
5 Cambridge Center
Cambridge MA 02142
Phone #: 617-621-6377
800 #: 866-353-6377
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.uveitis.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html