Disorder Subdivisions
- Acute Sarcoidosis; Heerferdt-Waldenstrom and Lofgren's Syndromes (Included)
- Subacute Sarcoidosis
- Chronic 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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Resources
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/
Sarcoidosis Research Institute
3475 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
Tel: (901)219-6883
Email: paula@sarcoidosisresearch.org
Internet: http://www.sarcoidosisresearch.org/
American Lung Association
61 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10006
USA
Tel: 2123158700
Fax: 2123158870
Tel: 8005864872
Internet: http://www.lungusa.org
NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
USA
Tel: 3014954484
Fax: 3017186366
Tel: 8772264267
TDD: 3015652966
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info
NIH/National Eye Institute
Building 31 Rm 6A32
31 Center Dr MSC 2510
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
United States
Tel: 3014965248
Fax: 3014021065
Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nei.nih.gov/
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (301)251-1223
Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
National Sarcoidosis Resource Center
P.O. Box 1593
Piscataway, NJ 08855-1593
Tel: (732)699-0733
Fax: (732)699-0882
Email: sconroy846@aol.com
Internet: http://www.nsrc-global.net
Sarcoidosis Networking Association
6201 Pacific Avenue
Suite B5
Tacoma, WA 98408
Tel: (253)826-7737
Fax: (253)826-7737
Email: sarcoidinformation@sarcoidosisnetwork.org
Internet: http://www.sarcoidosisnetwork.org
Sarcoidosis Online Sites: A Comprehensive Source for Sarcoidosis Information on the Internet
Email: webmaster@sarcoidosisonlinesites.com
Internet: http://www.sarcoidosisonlinesites.com
Sarcoidosis Center
6005 Park Ave
Suite 501
Memphis, TN 38119
USA
Tel: 9017615877
Fax: 9017612280
Tel: 8777272643
Email: sarcoid@sarcoidcenter.com
Internet: http://www.sarcoidcenter.com
Uveitis/OID Support Group
5 Cambridge Center
8th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
Tel: (617)621-6377
Fax: (781)431-2042
Tel: (866)353-6377
Email: fosters@comcast.net
Internet: http://www.uveitis.org
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60603
USA
Tel: 3123410500
Fax: 3123229808
Email: info@stopsarcoidosis.org
Internet: http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: 9203365333
Fax: 9203390995
Tel: 8773365333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
Erythema Nodosum Yahoo Support Group
Internet: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erythema_nodosum_Group/
Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
5841 S. Maryland Ave, MC 2030
Chicago, IL 60637
Tel: (773)702-5800
Fax: (773)702-5577
Email: information-millercenter@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu
Internet: http://millercenter.uchicago.edu
Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Tel: (732)664-9259
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aininc.org
European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Jeroen Bosch Hospital
Dept. Paediatrics
P.O. Box 90153
Hertogenbosch, 5200 ME's
Netherlands
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +31 73-6992948
Email: info@esid.org
Internet: http://www.esid.org
Janine Sarcoidosis Outreach Foundation
12600 Bissonnet
A4
Houston, TX 77099
Tel: (832)248-6621
Fax: (281)568-5775
Email: sarcoidosis@jsof.org
Internet: http://www.jsof.org AND http://groups.msn.com/nineesarcoidosissupportgroup
AutoImmunity Community
Tel: (919)-55-2-9057
Email: bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
Internet: http://autoimmunitycommunity.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
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
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This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 5/2/2008
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