Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic disease of unknown origin that can attack any organ or area of the body.
“Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in various organs in your body. The lumps are called granulomas because they look like grains of sugar or sand. They are very small and can be seen only with a microscope. These tiny granulomas can grow and clump together, making many large and small groups of lumps. If many granulomas form in an organ, they can affect how the organ works. This can cause symptoms of Sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis can occur in almost any part of your body, although it usually affects some organs more than others.” ( NHLBI website: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/sarc/sar_whatis.html )
While once thought rare, it has been found that Sarcoid affects thousands of people around the world. The most common organ involvement is the lungs, but Sarcoid also attacks the nervous system, the eyes, spleen, liver, kidneys, joints, bones, muscles, digestive system, skin, heart, nose, throat, and other areas.
There is no known cause although environmental and viral causes are being examined. The ACCESS study through the NIH has indicated that there may be a genetic link. You can go to www.nhlbi.nih.gov for more information about this study. There is also no known cure for Sarcoidosis.
One thing that we do know is that the data concerning Sarcoid is in need of being updated. There are many people with Sarcoidosis who are exhibiting symptoms that were once thought rare and some who are showing symptoms that were once thought to be no part of Sarcoidosis. Sarcoid is a mimic of other diseases and, often, the symptoms are blamed on other diseases.
For more information about what Sarcoidosis is, please click on the NIH link above and look at our page of related links for reliable information.
