Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis (sar"koi'do'sis) is a complex disease for which the cause and cure are unknown. Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body. The lumps are called granulomas (gran"u-lo'mahs) because under the microscope they look like grains of sugar or sand. When these granulomas invade the body they can cause permanent damage to the affected organ. The prevalence of the disease is approximately 800/100,000. Sarcoidosis is most often treated with the steroid, prednisone for which there are numerous adverse side effects. Sarcoidosis affects each patient differently. Lucky patients experience minimal symptoms with little change to their lifestyles. Thousands of others are totally debilitated by the disease; it has been fatal to many. Sarcoidosis can occur in almost any part of your body, including:

• National Institutes of Health
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  Diseases and Conditions Index: Sarcoidosis http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/sarc/sar_whatis.html
• National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Sarcoidosis Fact Sheet: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/other/sarcoidosis/index.htm
• http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org

• Sarcoidosis Online Sites: http://www.sarcoidosisonlinesites.com

• Sarcoidosis Network www.sarcoidosisnetwork@prodigy.net
• Sarcoidosis Online Sites: http://www.sarcoidosisonlinesites.com