Sarcoidosis of the Lungs: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Lung sarcoidosis is a disorder characterized by the formation of small lumps of cells inside the lungs. These microscopic lumps grow together into clumps and groups called granulomas that can affect how the lungs function.

Causes

• The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown as of 2010, according to Merck.com. The disease is more prevalent among African-Americans and people of Scandinavian descent, although it can occur in people of any ethnicity. People aged 20 to 40 are at higher risk than those in other age groups. Heredity, infections and abnormal immune responses may also play a part in the development of the disease.

Symptoms

• Many people with sarcoidosis do not develop any symptoms, and serious symptoms are rare. The most common indicators include a general feeling of illness, slight chest pain, fever and aching joints. The disease inflames the lungs and creates scarring, which causes shortness of breath and coughing. Severe lung sarcoidosis creates heart strain and leads to failure on the right side of the heart.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• There is no prevention or cure for lung sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is diagnosed with chest x-rays, magnetic resonance scans or blood and lung function tests. A corticosteroid or anti-inflammatory medication called prednisone controls the disease's symptoms. The disease improves or clears up by itself in two thirds of all lung sarcoidosis patients.