Sarcoidosis
Causes of sarcoidosis
The body'simmune system normally fights off infections by releasing white blood cells into the blood to isolate and destroy the germs. This results in inflammation (swelling and redness) of the body tissues in that area. The immune system responds like thisto anything in the blood it doesn't recognise, and dies down when the infection has been cleared.
It's thought that sarcoidosis happens because the immune system has gone into "overdrive", where the body starts to attack its own tissues and organs. The resulting inflammation then causes granulomas todevelop in the organs.
There are many similar conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus , that are caused bythe body attacking its own tissues. These are collectively known as autoimmune conditions.
It's not known why the immune system behaves like this, but research is being carried out to see what triggers sarcoidosis ( search clinical trials for sarcoidosis ).
It's possible that some environmental factor triggers thecondition in people who are already genetically susceptible to it.
Sarcoidosis can occasionally occur in more than one family member, but there's no evidence that the condition is inherited. The condition isn't infectious, so itcan't bepassed from person to person.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Sarcoidosis is a rare condition that causes small patches of red and swollen tissue, called granulomas, to develop in the organs of the body.
Symptoms of sarcoidosis
It's impossible to predict how sarcoidosis will affect a person, as the condition can affect any organ and the symptoms varywidely depending on whichorgans are involved. Most people with sarcoidosis
Causes of sarcoidosis
The body'simmune system normally fights off infections by releasing white blood cells into the blood to isolate and destroy the germs. This results in inflammation (swelling and redness) of the body t
Who's affected
Sarcoidosis can affect people of any age, but usually starts in young adults aged between 20 and 40. It's rare in childhood. The condition affects people from all ethnic backgrounds, but it's most co
Diagnosing sarcoidosis
A number of different testsmay be carried out to diagnose sarcoidosis, depending on which organs are affected. If your symptoms suggest you have pulmonary sarcoidosis (sarcoidosis affecting the lungs
How sarcoidosis is treated
Most people with sarcoidosis don't need treatment as thecondition often goes away on its own, usually within a few months oryears. Simple lifestyle changes and over-the-counter painkillers (such as p
Living with sarcoidosis
The Sarcoidosis Charity recommends the following lifestyle measuresif you have sarcoidosis: stop smoking, if you smoke avoid exposure to dust, chemicals, fumes and toxic gases eat a healthy balanc
Outlook
Symptoms of sarcoidosis may come and go, andcan usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers so theydon't affect everyday life.Most people with the condition find their symptoms have disappear
Information about you
If you have sarcoidosis, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look for bett
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