Sarcoidosis is a condition that involves the growth of tiny clusters of inflammatory cells in different parts of your body. These cells are called granulomas, and they can affect different organs and tissues in different ways.

The cause of sarcoidosis is still unknown, but most experts believe that it’s an autoimmune disorder, which means that the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in the body.

Symptoms of Sarcoidosis

The symptoms of sarcoidosis vary depending on which part of the body is affected. In some cases, you may not experience any symptoms at all. However, the most common symptoms of sarcoidosis include:.

Tiredness and fatigue
Fever and chills
Night sweats
Swollen lymph nodes
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Coughing
Skin rashes or sores
Eye redness, itching, and pain
Joint pain and swelling

How Sarcoidosis Affects Your Body

Sarcoidosis can affect different organs and tissues in your body, including your skin, eyes, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

The granulomas that form in these organs can interfere with their normal function and cause various complications.

Lungs: When granulomas form in your lungs, it can cause shortness of breath, persistent coughing, chest pain, and wheezing.

It can also lead to pulmonary fibrosis or scarring of lung tissue, which can further impair your breathing and increase your risk of respiratory failure.

Heart: When granulomas affect your heart, it can cause arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, and even sudden cardiac death.

It can also lead to inflammation of the heart muscle, which is known as myocarditis, and can further compromise your heart function and stamina.

Liver and Kidneys: When granulomas form in your liver, it can cause liver damage and impaired liver function. Similarly, when they affect your kidneys, it can cause kidney damage and impaired kidney function.

These complications can lead to liver failure, kidney failure, and other serious health problems.

Diagnosing Sarcoidosis

Diagnosing sarcoidosis can be challenging, as its symptoms can mimic those of other conditions, and no single test can confirm its presence.

Your doctor will typically perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms and determine whether you have sarcoidosis, including:.

Chest X-rays and Computed Tomography (CT) scans to evaluate your lung health and check for signs of granulomas.
Blood tests to measure your levels of white blood cells, liver and kidney enzymes, and other biomarkers that indicate inflammation and immune system activity.
Biopsy, tissue, or fluid sample from affected organs, such as skin, lungs, lymph nodes, or liver, to examine for the presence of granulomas.

Treating Sarcoidosis

There is currently no cure for sarcoidosis, and treatment aims to relieve its symptoms and prevent complications. Your doctor may recommend a variety of treatment options depending on your symptoms and which organs are affected, including:.

Corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory medications that suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation and swelling. They are often used to relieve symptoms of lung disease, skin involvement, and eye inflammation. However, long-term use of steroids can cause a host of side effects like bone loss, weight gain, and mood disturbances.
Immunosuppressant drugs, medications that help regulate your immune system and prevent it from attacking your healthy tissues. They are also used to reduce inflammation and swelling in the lungs, liver, and eyes. However, they can increase your risk of infection and other health problems.
Lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, managing stress, and avoiding triggers like smoking or air pollution.
Surgery, a procedure that may be recommended to remove granulomas that are causing obstruction or damage to organs such as the lungs or liver. However, it’s usually reserved for severe cases where other treatment options haven’t been successful.

Preventing Sarcoidosis

There is currently no known way to prevent sarcoidosis, given that its cause is still unknown. However, there are several ways to reduce your risk of developing severe complications or worsening of symptoms:.