From the Guidelines
The main symptoms of sarcoidosis include fatigue, persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the chest and neck, as well as skin rashes or lesions, joint pain and swelling, eye problems, fever and night sweats, and unexplained weight loss, as noted in the recent European Respiratory Journal guidelines 1. The symptoms of sarcoidosis can vary widely between individuals, as the disease can affect multiple organs. Some people may have no symptoms at all (asymptomatic), while others may experience severe manifestations.
- Common symptoms include:
- Fatigue, which can be severe enough to consider treatment, known as sarcoidosis-associated fatigue (SAF) 1
- Persistent dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the chest and neck
- Skin rashes or lesions
- Joint pain and swelling
- Eye problems, such as blurred vision, eye pain, or sensitivity to light
- Fever and night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss It's essential to note that symptoms like small-fibre neuropathy (SFN)-associated symptoms are also encountered in a significant number of sarcoidosis patients 1. If you suspect sarcoidosis, consult a healthcare provider immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of physical examination, chest X-rays, blood tests, and sometimes tissue biopsies. Treatment depends on the severity and organs affected, with the goal of preventing progression to irreversible disease and improving quality of life, as emphasized in the recent guidelines 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Sarcoidosis
The symptoms of sarcoidosis can vary depending on the organs involved. Some common symptoms include:
- Pulmonary symptoms such as exertional dyspnea, cough, and shortness of breath 2, 3
- Extra-pulmonary manifestations such as skin, eye, liver, and peripheral lymph node involvement 4, 5
- Abdominal symptoms such as nonspecific digestive and abdominal symptoms, arthralgias, and gastroesophageal reflux 6
- Systemic symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, and fever 3, 5
- Neurologic symptoms such as small fiber neuropathy and depression 6, 5
Organ-Specific Symptoms
Different organs can be involved in sarcoidosis, leading to a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Lung involvement: cough, shortness of breath, and pulmonary fibrosis 2, 3, 5
- Skin involvement: rash, lesions, and erythema nodosum 4, 5
- Eye involvement: uveitis, conjunctivitis, and vision impairment 4, 5
- Liver involvement: abnormal liver function tests and liver failure 4, 5
- Cardiac involvement: arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden death 5
Asymptomatic Sarcoidosis
Some patients with sarcoidosis may be asymptomatic, and the disease may be detected incidentally on chest X-ray or other imaging studies 4, 3, 5. In these cases, the disease may still be active and progressive, and treatment may be necessary to prevent organ damage.