The symptoms of sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis was first isolated as a separate disease in the late 19th century, the same dermatologist Ts.Bekom introduced the term "sarcoidosis" as indicating the resemblance of this disease with sarcoma Sarcoma - a full recovery possible   skin. Over time, lesions were identified, and other organs caused by the disease, primarily the lungs. Sarcoidosis - is a systemic disease characterized by the formation of granulomas, and metabolic disturbances, destruction and proliferation of connective tissue in tissues and organs near granulomas, in violation of their functions. In most cases, sarcoidosis affects the lymph nodes, skin, eyes, respiratory system, liver, spleen, parotid gland, bone, at least - other organs.

The cause of sarcoidosis remains unclear. It is believed that sarcoidosis occurs as a reaction of the body immunocompromised on any external or internal influence. In response to any antigen (foreign particles) into the blood of a patient develop antibodies that gluing antigens are deposited in tissues and promote tissue growth in the form of nodules (granuloma).

There are three forms of sarcoidosis: hilar, vnegrudnuyu and generalized, in which the chest manifestations of the disease combined with other organ.

Signs of intrathoracic sarcoidosis

When the intrathoracic form of sarcoidosis in the process involved mediastinal lymph nodes, bronchi and lungs. In the initial stages of the disease is asymptomatic. However, complaints can be confusing and the general type of weakness, malaise, poor appetite, sweating, pain in muscles and joints.

In some cases, sarcoidosis begins suddenly occurs with fever, pain in the joints Joint pain - how to understand what is going on? , Nodular appearance of skin rash, dry cough and chest pain, shortness of breath. Gradually, the cough is worse, there is phlegm, shortness of breath increases. In such a situation, the heart is unable to cope with his stress, there are congestion in the pulmonary circulation (pulmonary).

Signs vnegrudnogo sarcoidosis

Most often marked lymph nodes (usually cervical and supraclavicular) are somewhat enlarged, firm, elastic, painless, not soldered to surrounding tissues.

With the defeat of the bones most often affected phalanx of fingers and toes. In some cases, the formation of granulomas lead to osteoporosis Osteoporosis - he threatens you?   (vacuum and bone fragility), in others - to the formation of single or multiple bone cysts. There may be moderately expressed inflammatory processes in the small joints of the hands, wrist and knee joints.

More than half of the cases, affects the liver and spleen, but it almost does not manifest. Of salivary gland parotid likely to suffer, they are enlarged but painless. It is also characteristic damage of the heart muscle - sarkoidozny myocarditis, which is rarely detected in the patient's life. It is manifested disorders of heart rhythm and conduction abnormalities.

Nervous system sarcoidosis occurs in the form of individual neurites nerves (e.g., facial trigeminal, spinal nerves, etc.). It may also develop meningitis sarkoidozny Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges   and meningoencephalitis, which is very difficult to proceed with speech impairments, seizures, motor and sensory disorders.

The cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosis are combined with the involvement of other organs and tissues, but there are also isolated. Appear on the skin rashes (sarcoid). Melkouzelkovy sarcoid - a reddish-cyanotic hard painless nodules the size of a few millimeters with a smooth surface, located on the face and upper torso. Sometimes they occupy the entire skin. Over time, the nodules are flattened and in their place appear dark spots. Sarcoid may be large (the size of a hazelnut), then they are less.

Diagnosis of sarcoidosis

The main method of diagnosis of sarcoidosis are X-ray studies. Refine changes in the tissue allows a computer tomography. Magnetic resonance imaging is used in cases of suspected sarcoidosis of the central nervous system, liver, heart.

Also carried out an ultrasound examination of the internal organs. The study of respiratory function helps to reveal intrathoracic sarcoidosis in the early stages. Be sure to check the work of the heart.

Definitive diagnosis of the patient takes a piece of tissue for research: under the microscope revealed characteristic changes of sarcoidosis.

In the early stages of the disease sarcoidosis is often a random finding during examination for other diseases or professional examinations. If you suspect sarcoidosis patients underwent a complete examination, which aims to identify all foci of the disease.

First of all, appoint a general analysis of blood, urine, biochemical tests on the condition of the liver and kidneys. These analyzes give an idea of ​​the general state of the organism. For Sarcoidosis is characterized by the acceleration of ESR, elevated in the peripheral blood leukocytes - leukocytosis (but may be leukopenia - a decrease in the number of white blood cells). Liver and kidney function is disrupted in lesions of these organs.

Always held X-ray examination of the chest cavity, if necessary - computer or magnetic resonance imaging (CT or MRI). Ultrasonography (US) of the abdomen and pelvis reveals pockets of sarcoidosis in this area.

Sarcoidosis bones

With the defeat of the bones most likely to suffer the final phalanx of fingers and toes. Sometimes bone lesions leads to osteoporosis Osteoporosis - he threatens you?   - Thinning of the bones due to leaching of calcium from them. In other cases, the bone tissue formed single or multiple round cysts. Also develop arthritis (joint inflammation) in the hands, wrist and knee joints. In such cases, the skin and soft tissues of the joints swell, redden, become sharply painful.

Characteristic granulomas may occur in the calf, pectoral muscles, the muscles of the upper limbs, tendons, which is manifested by muscle weakness and pain.

Sarcoidosis liver

Liver Sarcoidosis affects more than half of the cases. It is developing the so-called granulomatous hepatitis Hepatitis - the scourge of our time   to form in the liver and in the interlobular interlayers characteristic granulomas. But such changes are rarely accompanied by significant impairment of liver function.

Sarcoidosis Spleen

The spleen is affected as frequently as the liver. It appears typical sarcoid - granulomas. But clinically it usually does not manifest itself.

Sarcoidosis Kidney

In the kidney, granulomas most often located in the cortex. In the capillaries of the glomerular pathological process develops according to the type of granulomatous glomerulonephritis Glomerulonephritis - a severe infection of the kidneys . This form of the disease manifests moderate proteinuria (protein in the urine). Kidney damage is very rare. Elevated blood levels of calcium, which is characteristic of sarcoidosis can lead to the formation of kidney stones Kidney stones: identify and treat   and urinary tract.

Sarcoidosis of the heart

Sarcoidosis of the heart are rare, but runs hard, can even cause sudden death of the patient. Granulomas develop in the heart muscle (myocardium) - granulomatous myocarditis. It is possible to damage the blood vessels and destruction of myocardial cells.

The disease is rarely recognized in the life of patients. It manifests disturbances of cardiac rhythm and conduction, development of heart failure. Sometimes cardiac sarcoidosis mimics myocardial infarction.

Sarcoidosis in children

Sarcoidosis in children is rare, about 0, 3 per 100 000 population. There are two forms of childhood sarcoidosis:

• Children get sick after 5 years as well as adults; often they develop respiratory sarcoidosis;
• children under 5 suffer from sarcoidosis in another way; the disease manifests itself in the form of joint disease (arthritis), eye (uevida) and skin lesion without intrathoracic.

Sarcoidosis occurs in children different from the rapidly advancing self-healing and spontaneous remission to constant relapses and progression of the disease with the loss of organ function.

Treatment

But with the progression of the disease to inhibit cell proliferation in sarkoidoznyh granulomas appointed glucocorticoid hormones, anti-malarial drugs. It is also used blood purification using plasmapheresis, physiotherapy.

Used unloading diet therapy (fasting), which restores the immune system, stimulates the adrenal cortex.

Sarcoidosis is a rare disease, it does not reveal that simple, however, it is necessary to detect as early as possible in order to prevent possible complications.

  Galina Romanenko