Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

MRI scans of the heart may help in predicting the risk of cardiac sarcoidosis recurring after initial successful treatment, a study reports. A greater extent of scarred heart tissue prior to treatment, in particular, was associated with a five times higher risk of relapse. The presence of sarcoidosis only…

Death rates while waiting for a lung transplant are disproportionally higher among people with pulmonary sarcoidosis than for those with other lung disorders, a U.S. study shows. “Our research shows that further consideration needs to be given to how we classify patients with sarcoidosis and how we calculate their…

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is funding a new research project that aims to find biological markers that could help identify people with sarcoidosis who are at risk of developing advanced lung disease. The work will be led by Christen Vagts, MD, an early career physician scientist…

Patterns of multiorgan involvement in African Americans with sarcoidosis differ from those of Americans of European ancestry, a study suggests. But in both groups, certain genetic mutations are associated with specific patterns of organ involvement. Collectively, its findings “support ancestry-specific differences likely resulting from distinct social, cultural, and environmental…

Cardiac sarcoidosis affects slightly more women, but men with the disease are at higher risk of potentially fatal heart rhythm abnormalities, according to a study in Japan. The findings suggest more aggressive preventive treatment for heart problems may be warranted for men with cardiac sarcoidosis, the researchers noted in “…

Sarcoidosis patients who are male or carry a genetic variation called HLA-DRB1*07 are more likely to have lymphopenia — low levels of white blood cells called lymphocytes — a known risk factor for more severe disease. That is according to a study, “Peripheral blood lymphopenia in sarcoidosis…

Greater exposure to the experimental treatment efzofitimod led to a more pronounced improvement in lung function for people with pulmonary sarcoidosis in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, according to a new analysis. Scientists at aTyr Pharma, the company developing the first-in-class immunomodulatory therapy, presented their findings at…

Swelling of a specific vein in the brain may be a sign of neurosarcoidosis, a form of sarcoidosis that affects the nervous system, a new study suggests. “Incorporating this in the current diagnostic criteria may result in timely intervention, and we encourage radiologists to look for this marker in patients…

The risk of sarcoidosis is significantly reduced in people who smoke cigarettes and may be increased in people who are obese, a study in Sweden suggested. While these findings are consistent with some previous studies, more research is needed to confirm them, the researchers noted in “Modifiable lifestyle…

People with pulmonary sarcoidosis believe earlier referrals to specialists could improve the diagnostic process and call for new treatment approaches leading to a better quality of life, according to findings from a discussion with patients from six countries. They also questioned the “concept of remission” in a multiorgan disease…