Sarcoidosis

Question 1

What is sarcoidosis?

Answer 1

Disease characterised by an abnormal collection of inflammatory cells that form lumps known as grandulomas

Question 2

Where are the common areas of disease in sarcoids?

Answer 2

Lungs
Skin
Lymph nodes

Question 3

Where are the less common areas of disease in sarcoids?

Answer 3

Eyes
Liver
Heart
Brain

Question 4

Is sarcoids more common in males or females?

Answer 4

Females

Question 5

What are the signs of sarcoids?

Answer 5

Enlarged lymph nodes

abnormal CXR in affected organs

Question 6

What are the symptoms or sarcoids?

Answer 6

Shortness of breath
Cough
Arthralgia - joint pain
Erythema nodosum - inflammation of the fat cells under the skin - particularity in the shins

Question 7

What investigations are used in the diagnosis of sarcoids?

Answer 7

CXR
Biopsy 
Calcium levels - would be raised 
ACE levels - raised - primary test 
Kveim test

Question 8

What is the Kveim test?

Answer 8

Spleen tissue from affected individual is injected into the persons skin, if granulomas form the test is positive

Question 9

What is the treatments for sarcoids?

Answer 9

Cortical steroids