Sarcoidosis, or, as it is also called, Benje Beck-Schaumann disease is a systemic disease, usually chronic. It is characterized by the formation of specific, non-necrotic granulomas in various tissues of the body (lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and other organs). At the same time, manifestations of fibrosis in the affected tissues are not excluded, which, in turn, can lead to a violation of their functions. Most often, women under 50 suffer from sarcoidosis, while its prevalence among Scandinavians, African Americans, Irish and Asians is characteristic. The etiology of this disease, despite years of research in this area, remains unclear, since none of the theories put forward (the influence of microorganisms, heredity or the external environment) can unequivocally answer the question: "What kind of mysterious disease is sarcoidosis?"
Symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in different ways - in many respects they depend on the tissue of which organ or even organs are involved in the process of granuloma formation.
Sarcoidosis Symptoms
In 90% of cases, the disease affects the intrathoracic
lymph nodes, as well as the lungs and bronchi, this is the so-called "sarcoidosis of the respiratory system." In most cases, it begins asymptomatically, showing up by chance on an X-ray of the lungs during a physical examination. However, there are frequent cases of shortness of breath,
hard breathing and chest pain.
If we talk about the classification of lung sarcoidosis, then its criterion is the degree of damage to the respiratory system.
Grade 1 sarcoidosis is the initial intrathoracic lympho-iron form, expressed by an increase in intrathoracic lymph nodes, usually symmetrically bilateral.
Grade 2 sarcoidosis is a mediastinal-pulmonary form, manifested not only by an increase in intrathoracic lymph nodes, but also by pulmonary tissue infiltration.
Grade 3 sarcoidosis is a pulmonary form, characterized by fibrosis of lung tissue, the formation of emphysema is possible.
It is worth noting that this classification applies only to a disease such as pulmonary sarcoidosis. Symptoms of sarcoidosis of other organs may be mild, therefore, the diagnosis of an extrapulmonary variant of this disease can cause a number of problems. The only exception is sarcoidosis of the skin, manifested by the appearance of specific sarcoid spots, and sarcoid iridocyclitis of the eyes.
It is worth noting that only after all the necessary studies are carried out that exclude other diseases, the doctor makes a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, the symptoms of which are easier to recognize in the overall picture of the disease. According to certain signs, the disease is diagnosed more difficult.
How to treat sarcoidosis?
Medical statistics show that in most cases the disease resolves on its own, therefore, if organ damage is minor, medication is not prescribed. However, for 6-8 months the patient is under constant medical supervision. If the disease is severe, with complications or progression, then a course of steroidal or anti-inflammatory drugs is prescribed.