Sarcoidosis

Condition

• Sarcoidosis

Definitions

• Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder of unknown aetiology which is characterised by non-caseating granulomatous inflammation that involves the lung in about 90% of affected patients. A characteristic feature is bilateral hillier lymphadenopathy, which is often symptomless and detected on routine chest x-ray (CXR). Radiological lung involvement can be associated with or occur independently of hillier lymphadenopathy. 

Main features

• May be asymptomatic (one-third)
• Onset usually third or fourth decade
• Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (on CXR)
• Cough
• Fever, malaise, arthralgia
• Erythema nudism
• Ocular lesions (e.g. anterior uveitis)
• Other multiple organ lesions (uncommon)
• Overall mortality 2-5%

Investigation

• diagnosis is usually made by biopsy
• Female with erythema nodosum with an acute swinging fever, malaise and arthralgia in a young adult female is diagnostic of sarcoidosis

Treatment

• Referral

Reference

• John Murtagh's general practice 5th edition