Sarcoidosis shares much in common with other autoimmune diseases. Research on any particular one usually, but not always, applies to the other autoimmune diseases. They have similar underlying causes and conditions, and consequently similar ways of dealing with them.
The main symptom that labels an autoimmune disease as sarcoidosis is a type of inflammation with granulomas. Most commonly they are found in the lungs, skin, lymph nodes, liver or spleen. Often they go away after a few years but even if they do that, they can come back later with a vengeance.
Some of the latest research has shown that it is bacteria in the granulomas that initiate and cause sarcoidosis. So this is definitely one autoimmune disease where antibiotics or supplements that kill bacteria or help the body to better kill bacteria can play a vital role.
These bacteria produce vitamin D. So people with sarcoidosis may suffer from vitamin D toxicity. Especially if they are out in the sun a lot, drink vitamin D fortified milk, or take supplements with vitamin D. This is completely different than an autoimmune disease like MS where there is usually not enough vitamin D. It may be advisable to test your vitamin D levels. If they are high drastically limit exposure to the sun and refrain from taking anything with added vitamin D. After several months elevated vitamin D levels would then start to level out.
You may experience Sarcoidosis in almost any part of your body, although it usually affects some organs more than others. It usually starts in one of two places:
* Lungs
* Lymph nodes, especially the lymph nodes in your chest cavity.
Sarcoidosis also often affects your:
* Skin
* Eyes
* Liver.
Less often, sarcoidosis affects your:
* Spleen
* Brain
* Nerves
* Heart
* Tear glands
* Salivary glands
* Bones and joints.
Rarely, sarcoidosis affects other organs, including your:
* Thyroid gland
* Breasts
* Kidneys
* Reproductive organs.
Sarcoidosis almost always occurs in more than one organ at a time.
Sarcoidosis has an active and a nonactive phase:
* In the active phase, the granulomas form and grow. In this phase, symptoms can develop, and scar tissue can form in the organs where the granulomas occur.
* In the nonactive phase, the inflammation goes down, and the granulomas stay the same size or shrink. But the scars may remain and cause symptoms.
The course of the disease varies greatly among people.
* In many people, sarcoidosis is mild. The inflammation that causes the granulomas may get better on its own. The granulomas may stop growing or shrink. Symptoms may go away within a few years.
* In some people, the inflammation remains but doesn't get worse. You may also have symptoms or flare-ups and need treatment every now and then.
* In other people, sarcoidosis slowly gets worse over the years and can cause permanent organ damage. Although treatment can help, sarcoidosis may leave scar tissue in the lungs, skin, eyes, or other organs. The scar tissue can affect how the organs work. Treatment usually does not affect scar tissue.
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