Sarcoidosis

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Sarcoidosis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Schaumann's Disease
Sarcoid of Boeck

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

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

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

Sarcoid Networking Association
5302 South Sheridan Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98408
Tel: (253)826-7737
Fax: (253)826-7737
Email: sarcoidosis_network@prodigy.net
Internet: http://www.sarcoidosisnetwork.org

Sarcoidosis Network Foundation, Inc.
13337 East South Street
Suite 420
Cerritos, CA 90703
Tel: (714)739-1398
Fax: (714)739-1398

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

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)262-0450
Fax: (732)262-0450
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

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.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
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: 7/2/2004
Copyright 1986, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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