Sarcoidosis
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 paracetamol or ibuprofen ) are often all that's needed to control the pain of any flare-ups. See living with sarcoidosis (below)for lifestyle advice.
Doctors will monitoryour condition to check if it's getting any better or worse without treatment. This can be done with regular X-rays, breathing tests and blood tests .
Medication
Iftreatment is recommended, prednisolone steroid tablets are usually used.
Thismedicationisthe most effective treatment for sarcoidosis, helping torelieve symptoms and prevent damage to affected organsby reducing inflammation and preventing scarring.
However,steroid medication can cause unpleasant side effects such as weight gain and mood swingsif taken in high doses. Other side effects, such as weakening of the bones ( osteoporosis ), can also developif it'staken for a long time. Therefore, this medicationis only used when necessary.
You mayinitiallybe given a high doseof steroid medication for a short period of time, before switching to a low dose for the months or years that follow. Your condition will be monitored during this time to see how well the treatment is working.
In some cases, taking calcium or vitamin D supplements can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis caused by long-term use of steroid medication. However, you should only take these if advised by your doctor. Some people with sarcoidosis may have anincreased risk of developing complications, including kidney stones, while taking steroid medication.
Alternative medications may sometimes be used if steroids aren't enough or there are concerns about side effects. In these cases, a type of medication called an immunosuppressant might be recommended. These medicationsmay help to improve your symptoms by reducing the activity of your immune system.
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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