Sarcoidosis

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  • Sarcoidosis

Etiology

  • Idiopathic systemic illness causing granuloma formation
  • Can affect almost every organ system

Risk Factors

  • Age usually <40
  • Blacks >> other racial groups

Symptoms

  • Symptoms relate to development of granulomas in any organ system
  • General: fever, fatigue, weight loss
  • Pulmonary: recurrent/progressive cough, SOB, wheezing
  • Neuro: can affect CNs, meninges, PNs (unexplained weakness and/or numbness), spinal cord, hypothalamus, muscles; seizures
  • Eyes: decreased vision, pain
  • Assorted unexplained skin growth
  • Cardiac: CHF from infiltrative cardiac dz, syncope/sudden death from dysrhythmia
  • Musculo-Skeletal: joint pain
  • Often delays in dx as treated for asthma or other more common problems - with systemic nature of symptoms mis-identified as organ specific disorders

Physical Exam Findings

  • Wheezing
  • Arthritis
  • CN7 palsey
  • Adenopathy
  • Eyes: uveitis w/decreased vision, pain, redness
  • Erythema nodosum→ erythematous, painful nodules--> often on legs
  • Purplish-skin plaques/nodules on face (Lupus Pernio)
  • Other skin findings: nodules, plaques, pappules
  • Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly
  • PNS (unexplained peripheral numbness, weakness) & CNS involvement
  • Other organ infiltration

Tests

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