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Sarcoidosis

  • Multisystem chronic granulomatous disorder
  • Presents with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (LAD), pulmonary infiltration, skin/eye lesions,

Epidemiology/etiology

  • Unknown etiology
  • MC in North Europe
  • F > M
  • Possible etiological factors – atypical mycobacterium, occupational, EBV

Clinical features

  • Can involve any organs
  • Lofgren’s syndrome – MC in young women
    • Erythema nodosum, arthropathy, uveitis, bilateral hilar LAD, lethargy, fever
  • Pulmonary symptoms – cough, dyspnoea, radiographic infiltrates, fibrosis
  • Systemic involvement – see diagram

Diagnosis

  • Lymphopenia
  • Hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria
  • CXR – to stage disease (see box), if non symmetrical consider tuberculosis
  • Bronchoscopy – cobblestone mucosa
    • Biopsy – non-caseating granulomas
  • Bronchial alveolar lavage fluid – ↑CD4:CD8

Treatment

  • NSAIDs
  • Severe disease
    • Prednisolone – If there is hypercalcemia, pulmonary/renal impairment, uveitis
    • Methotrexate, azathoprine
  • Cutaneous sarcoidosis with limited pulmonary involvement
    • Chloroquine, thalidomide
  • Lung transplant
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