Sarcoidosis Awareness - ProfilesArchive

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Sarcoidosis (SAR-coy-DOH-sis) also called sarcoid (from the greek 'sark' and 'oid' meaning "flesh-like") or Besnier-Boeck disease. It's a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. This is a worldwide disease with the lowest prevalence in the Far East and the highest in Sweden. The prevalence in the United States is 20-50/100,000 population. Sarcoidosis has a higher frequency in people of color and in women, but the disease is also common in whites and men in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Sarcoidosis does occur in children and elderly, but most patients present between ages 20-40 years. The condition can strike anywhere in the body, from the skin to the liver. But it most commonly affects the lungs, causing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and occasionally chest pain. The most common presenting findings are thoracic lymphadenopathy, lung parenchymal abnormality and lesions of the skin and eye.
Death rarely results from sarcoidosis, but the condition was listed, along with sleep apnea, as a probable factor in the death of former National Football League player Reggie White in December 2004.
Other famous people with sarcoidosis include basketball legend Bill Russell, sitcom actress Tisha Campbell-Martin, model-actress Karen Duffy, who wrote a book about her rare form of the disease, which affected her spine and caused devastating headaches and Bernie Mac sitcom actor of "The Bernie Mac Show" announced in February of 2005 that he's had sarcoidosis since 1983. His health had been the subject of speculation since last summer when he was hospitalized and later released. The latest person to talk about having Sarcoidosis is Singer/Songwriter Angie Stone. (see pics)
Finally,you can't catch sarcoidosis from someone who has it. More research is needed to discover what causes sarcoidosis.
Among the things currently being investigated by Sarcoidosis researchers are:
Does Sarcoidosis have many causes, or is it caused by a single agent?
In which body organ does Sarcoidosis actually start?
How does Sarcoidosis spread from one part of the body to another?
Do heredity, environment, and lifestyle play any role in the appearance, severity, or length of the disease?
Is the abnormal immune response seen in patients a cause or an effect of the disease?
How can Sarcoidosis be prevented?
The purpose of the this page is to support others and raise awareness about Sarcoidosis.

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Aviptadil - A new drug Designed for the treatment of Sarcoidosis in European Union

Basel, October 19, 2007 - mondoBIOTECH, a private Swiss biotechnology company, today announced the receipt of an Orphan Medicinal Product Designation (OMPD) by the European Commission for its pro...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:34:00 PST

Stages of Sarcoidosis

There are four stages of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Patients with stage I or II disease may have no symptoms, whereas stages III and IV can be characterized by progressive dyspnea, loss of lung function ...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:40:00 PST

Genetics of Sarcoidosis.

Research increasingly suggests that Sarcoidosis results from an interplay of environmental and genetic factors. Although the recently completed ACCESS (A Case-Control Etiologic Study of Sarcoid...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:47:00 PST

Why did I get Sarcoidosis? Why me?

It is normal for your body to generate an immune response when challenged by foreign matter such as Microbes and Allergens. The immune system has a special type of cell that it forms when the Lymphocy...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:44:00 PST

What is the difference between Sarcoidosis and Lofgrens Syndrome?

Named for the Scandinavian researcher Sven Löfgren who in the 1940's contributed new insights into understanding sarcoidosis, Lofgren's syndrome is a form of acute sarcoidosis that occurs for a short...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Tue, 04 Jul 2006 07:59:00 PST

MUSC Sarcoidosis Center

The MUSC Sarcoidosis Center, one of the largest sarcoidosis clinics in the United States. Dr. Marc A. Judson, MD is director of the MUSC Sarcoidosis Center. He has extensive experience in the clinical...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 05:19:00 PST

Dry Eye and Sarcoidosis

Dry eye is a serious condition that occurs when changes to the health of the tear-producing glands affect the quantity and quality of tears produced and the tear film can no longer provide enough nour...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Tue, 11 Jul 2006 01:43:00 PST

I have sarcoidosis, is it OK for me to exercise?

Almost anyone, at any age, can improve their health by doing some type of physical activity. And, you do not have to exercise at a high intensity to get most health benefits. But, for people with cert...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Tue, 04 Jul 2006 08:12:00 PST

What can people with sarcoidosis expect?

In many people, sarcoidosis gets better all by itself. Women and people with less severe lung involvement usually do the best. However with talking with many people who have sarcoidosis including myse...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Thu, 18 May 2006 02:46:00 PST

How will my doctor treat my sarcoidosis?

If your disease is mild, you may not need to take medicine. Your doctor will probably treat sarcoidosis if it involves your kidneys, eyes, heart, nervous system or lungs (especially if breathing diffi...
Posted by Sarcoidosis Awareness on Thu, 18 May 2006 02:44:00 PST