Pulmonary sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause. It principally affects young adults, and may present acutely with a combination of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL) on chest radiography, sometimes accompanied by inflammatory eye disease (anterior uveitis) and red, hot, tende...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine (Abingdon. 1995, UK ed.) UK ed.), 2004, Vol.32 (2), p.148-152
Main Author: FitzGerald, Muiris X
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
pulmonary
sarcoidosis
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Summary:Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause. It principally affects young adults, and may present acutely with a combination of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL) on chest radiography, sometimes accompanied by inflammatory eye disease (anterior uveitis) and red, hot, tender anterior shin nodules (erythema nodosum). A few patients present with pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiography with or without symptoms, single or multiple organ involvement (skin, liver, kidney, heart) or metabolic complications (hypercalcaemia). There is some correlation between the clinical and radiological presentation and the subsequent course, prognosis and management. Patients who initially present with BHL with or without erythema nodosum or uveitis seldom need oral corticosteroids. In contrast, most patients with symptomatic pulmonary infiltration, critical organ dysfunction or hypercalcaemia usually require long-term corticosteroid treatment.
ISSN:1357-3039
1878-9390
DOI:10.1383/medc.32.2.148.28459