Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Sarcoidosisis not the name you expected.

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

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe
MI
48021-2227
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
800: (800)598-4668
aarda@aarda.org
http://www.aarda.org/

Sarcoidosis Research Institute
3475 Central Avenue
Memphis
TN
38111
Tel: (901)219-6883
paula@sarcoidosisresearch.org
http://www.sarcoidosisresearch.org/

American Lung Association
61 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York
NY
10006
USA
Tel: (212)315-8700
Fax: (212)315-8870
800: (800)586-4872
http://www.lungusa.org

NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda
MD
20892-3675
USA
Tel: (301)495-4484
Fax: (301)718-6366
800: (877)226-4267
TDD: (301)565-2966
NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
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: (301)496-5248
Fax: (301)402-1065
2020@nei.nih.gov
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
nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.govNational Sarcoidosis Resource Center
P.O. Box 1593
Piscataway
NJ
08855-1593
Tel: (732)699-0733
Fax: (732)699-0882
sconroy846@aol.com
http://www.nsrc-global.net

Sarcoidosis Networking Association
6201 Pacific Avenue
Suite B5
Tacoma
WA
98408
Tel: (253)826-7737
Fax: (253)826-7737
sarcoidinformation@sarcoidosisnetwork.org
http://www.sarcoidosisnetwork.org

Sarcoidosis Online Sites: A Comprehensive Source for Sarcoidosis Information on the Internet
webmaster@sarcoidosisonlinesites.com
http://www.sarcoidosisonlinesites.com

Sarcoidosis Center
6005 Park Ave
Suite 501
Memphis
TN
38119
USA
Tel: (901)761-5877
Fax: (901)761-2280
800: (877)727-2643
sarcoid@sarcoidcenter.com
http://www.sarcoidcenter.com

Uveitis/OID Support Group
5 Cambridge Center
8th Floor
Cambridge
MA
02142
Tel: (617)621-6377
Fax: (781)431-2042
800: (866)353-6377
fosters@comcast.net
http://www.uveitis.org

Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700
Chicago
IL
60603
USA
Tel: (312)341-0500
Fax: (312)322-9808
info@stopsarcoidosis.org
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: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
800: (877)336-5333
mums@netnet.net
http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Erythema Nodosum Yahoo Support Group
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
information-millercenter@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu
http://millercenter.uchicago.edu

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick
NJ
08723
Tel: (732)664-9259
autoimmunehelp@aol.com
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
info@esid.org
http://www.esid.org

Janine Sarcoidosis Outreach Foundation
12600 Bissonnet
A4
Houston
TX
77099
Tel: (832)248-6621
Fax: (281)568-5775
sarcoidosis@jsof.org
http://www.jsof.org AND http://groups.msn.com/nineesarcoidosissupportgroup

AutoImmunity Community
Tel: (919) 552-9057
bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
http://autoimmunitycommunity.org