Sarcoidosis - a clinically orientated review

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown cause. Sarcoidosis can affect all individuals with any race, sex, or age but commonly affects young- and middle-aged adults and usually presents with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary infiltration, skin and ocular lesions. Other organs can also be affected. Diagnosis is established when clinical and radiological findings are supported by the presence of non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas, however, local sarcoid reactions and granulomas of known cause should be excluded. The optimal management has not been well defined yet, although corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treatment, there is little evidence on which to base the indications for treatment including dosage and duration of therapy. Certain clinical features are helpful in the prognosis of the condition that can vary from a self-limiting course to progressive life-threatening fibrosis of the vital organs.