Sarcoidosis Research
Sarcoidosis is a condition that creates clusters of inflammatory cells in many organs of the body. These clusters are called granulomas because of their resemblance to grains of sugar. The clusters are so small that observation can only be done with a microscope. The clusters can form in any part of the body and if a large number develop in an organ it could affect the operation of the organ, which would produce symptoms of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis usually develops in the lungs or lymph nodes. Other common areas of infection are liver, skin and eyes and some infections can develop in the brain, spleen, nerves, heart, bones and joints. Most of the time the granulomas develop in more than one organ at a time. This condition can only be positively identified by a microscopic examination. The course of the conditions has a wide variance among people. Some have no symptoms at all and can only be detected in a routine chest examination. Others have symptoms and the symptoms may continue for many years or it may suddenly disappear.
Most people require no treatment, as the condition will disappear of its own accord. People with severe symptoms should be under a doctor's care that direct proper treatment with drugs. Tests on the effectiveness of drugs can be checked with chest x-rays and other methods as directed by the doctor. This is a condition that has no known cause and no method of prevention. At one time it was considered a rare development, but now there are large numbers of people with this affliction.
