Question 1

what are the tests for sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

See below: Tests many times are directed at the symptoms or physical findings. There is a blood test called an ace level which is positive in 2/3 of patients with sarcoid. Chest xray may show abnormalities. Biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes or other organ biopsy such as the lungs may be needed. Some patients will have anemia, increased inflammation markers such as a sed rate or crp.

Question 2

what are the symptoms of sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

Usually none.: Most patients have no symptoms and it is found by accident. If symptoms occur they can be cough, shortness of breath, swelling and pain in one or more joints, red bumps on the shins, fatigue, swelling of the salivary glands or other lymph nodes. Fever and eye redness or pain are other less common symptoms. There are racial differences as well; african american and asians have worse symptoms.

Question 3

what arre the symptoms of sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

Variable: They can range from being asymptomatic to cough, bloody cough, headache, GI problems, visual problems, arthritis, the list goe on.

Question 4

is there a cure for sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

Sarcoidosis: There is no known cure for sarcoid. Historically, steroids have had some use, some newer drugs like Methotrexate and others have helped.  There are some integrative methods but there has been limited success.  Sometimes, after a patient has active sarcoid for a few years they will go into remisssion. A few patients have a chronic form which does not improve & needs intensive medical treatment.

Question 5

does sarcoidosis always have nodules?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease. It most commonly affects lungs. In the lungs it usually causes enlargement of lymph glands on both sides.

Question 6

what are the side effects of sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

Sarcoid: Sarcoidosis can affect any organ in the body so the effects of sarcoidosis are legion. Check the internet, particularly the nih website for well considered information on the condition.

Question 7

do people with sarcoidosis have a lot of pain?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: Not all saroid is symptomatic. Lung invovlement early has no symptoms. The diagnosis is suggested  by seeing  changes on the chest x - ray.  Involvement of the joints,  eye, muscles can be symtpomatic. If you have  sarcoid and pain  your rheuamtologist  will look for other causes  of pain besides  the sarcoid. Sometimes it  may be due to fibromyalgia which is not  due to the sarcoid  at  all.

Question 8

is there a relation between sarcoidosis and cardiomyopathy?

Accepted Answer

Sarcoidosis: Non-cardiac sarcoidosis doesn't cause cardiomyopathy. But if you have cardiac sarcoidosis it could manifest as cardiomyopathy. It is a kind of infiltrative cardiac disease.

Question 9

how effective is halobetasol (halonate) for treating sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

Halobetasol: Halobetasol is a topical steroid and probably only effective for cutaneous (skin) related Sarcoidosis. There are many skin manifestations like erythema nodosum to psoriasis-like plaques and skin biopsy is often necessary to establish sarcoidosis and Rx options. Sarcoidosis affects many organs like the lung, nervous system, and kidney systems, and in these scenarios, a topical steroid is not helpfu

Question 10

what would be the absolute monocyte level in someone with sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

Often a bit high: It's a monocyte-crazy disorder and like TB i've noticed over the years that monocytes often run a bit high, maybe 800 or 1000.  This is notoriously unreliable but a tipoff; nobody's going to base a decision on it but it's fun to see.

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