From the Guidelines
Sarcoidosis symptoms can vary widely, often affecting multiple organs, and may include respiratory, skin, eye, joint, neurological, and cardiac manifestations, with the most common symptoms being persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the chest 1.
Common Symptoms
- Persistent dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the chest
Organ-Specific Symptoms
- Skin manifestations: rashes, nodules, or erythema nodosum (painful red bumps on the shins) 1
- Eye problems: blurred vision, eye pain, or redness
- Joint pain and swelling, particularly in the ankles
- Neurological symptoms: headaches, facial paralysis, or seizures
- Cardiac involvement: palpitations or irregular heartbeats
Disease Characteristics
Sarcoidosis is characterized by the formation of granulomas (clusters of inflammatory cells) in affected organs, which can disrupt normal function 1. Symptoms may appear suddenly and resolve within a few years, or develop gradually and become chronic. The severity and combination of symptoms depend on which organs are affected and the extent of inflammation.
Importance of Medical Evaluation
If you experience persistent respiratory symptoms, unexplained fatigue, or any combination of these symptoms, medical evaluation is recommended for proper diagnosis and management 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Sarcoidosis
The provided studies do not directly discuss the symptoms of sarcoidosis. However, they do mention the disease's effects on various organs and the challenges of its therapeutic management.
Disease Manifestation
- Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease that affects multiple organs 2.
- The disease has a heterogeneous manifestation and clinical course, making its therapeutic management challenging 2.
- Sarcoidosis can cause significant symptomatic relief and improvements or resolutions of physiological, serological, and radiographic findings with appropriate treatment 3.
Treatment and Clinical Course
- Corticosteroids remain the first-choice therapy for sarcoidosis, but their long-term use is associated with toxicity 2, 4, 5.
- Second-line therapy includes cytotoxic agents such as methotrexate, azathioprine, leflunomide, and hydroxychloroquine 2, 6, 4, 5.
- Third-line treatment options include tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors and experimental therapeutic rituximab 2, 5.