The course of the disease
varies greatly among people.
- In many people, sarcoidosis is mild.
The inflammation that causes the
granulomas may get better on its own.
The granulomas may stop growing or
shrink. Symptoms may go away within a
few years.
- In some people, the inflammation
remains but doesn't get worse. You may
also have symptoms or flare-ups and need
treatment every now and then.
- In other people, sarcoidosis slowly
gets worse over the years and can cause
permanent organ damage. Although
treatment can help, sarcoidosis may
leave scar tissue in the lungs, skin,
eyes, or other organs. The scar tissue
can affect how the organs work.
Treatment usually does not affect scar
tissue.
Changes in sarcoidosis
usually occur slowly (e.g., over months).
Sarcoidosis does not usually cause sudden
illness. However, some symptoms may occur
suddenly. They include:
- Disturbed heart rhythms
- Arthritis in the ankles
- Eye symptoms.
In some serious cases in
which vital organs are affected, sarcoidosis
can result in death.
Sarcoidosis was once thought
to be an uncommon condition. It's now known
to affect tens of thousands of people
throughout the United States. Because many
people who have sarcoidosis have no
symptoms, it's hard to know how many people
have the condition.
Sarcoidosis was identified
in the late 1860s. Since then, scientists
have developed better tests to diagnose it
and made advances in treating it.
Who Gets
Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis affects people of all ages and races worldwide.
It occurs mostly in:
- Adults between the ages of 20 and 40
- African Americans (especially women)
- People of Asian, German, Irish, Puerto Rican, and Scandinavian origin.
In the United States, sarcoidosis affects African Americans
somewhat more often and more severely than Caucasians.
Studies have shown that sarcoidosis is more likely to affect
certain organs in certain populations. For example,
- Sarcoidosis of the heart and eye appears to be more common in Japan.
- Painful skin lumps on the legs occur more often in people from Northern
Europe.
People who are more likely to get sarcoidosis include:
- Health care workers
- Nonsmokers
- Elementary and secondary school teachers
- People exposed to agricultural dust, insecticides, pesticides, or mold
- Firefighters.
Brothers and sisters, parents, and children of people who have
sarcoidosis are more likely than others to have sarcoidosis.