MODERN DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF SARCOIDOSIS

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease. The etiology of sarcoidosis is unknown. The disease predominantly affects the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes and is characterized by noncaseating granulomas in affected organs. Although not standardized, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based on three major criteria: clinical and radiological presentation, finding non-necrotizing granulomas in tissue samples, and excluding alternative causes of granulomatous disease. The decision of who and when to treat an individual patient depends on two major factors: risk of death or organ failure and impairment of quality of life. In most cases, oral steroids are prescribed. Methotrexate (administered orally or subcutaneously) is a preferable agent for second-line treatment.