Sarcoidosis Complications: Understanding Lung Issues and Risks

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder. Complications by system:

Pulmonary

• Interstitial lung disease (most common)
• Pulmonary fibrosis (irreversible scarring)
• Pneumothorax, pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale

Cardiac

• Myocarditis, pericarditis, arrhythmias, heart failure, sudden death

Neurological

• Neurosarcoidosis (cranial neuropathies, meningitis, hypothalamic/pituitary lesions)

Ocular

• Uveitis (anterior/posterior), retinitis, glaucoma, optic nerve involvement

Renal

• Hypercalciuria, nephrolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis, interstitial nephritis, renal failure

Hepatic

• Granulomatous hepatitis, portal hypertension, rare liver failure

Cutaneous

• Lupus pernio (violaceous nasal/cheek plaques), plaques, nodules, scars

Constitutional

• Fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats, arthralgias, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly

Multidisciplinary care (pulmonology, rheumatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology) optimizes outcomes.