Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

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…

The Lung Allocation Score (LAS) system, which is used to prioritize patients awaiting lung transplant, may not accurately reflect disease severity risks for people with pulmonary sarcoidosis, a new study reports. Results showed that several factors accounted for in the LAS remain significant predictors of mortality for patients on…

A clinical trial is testing whether a smartphone app called SPARC, which prompts users to perform meditative breathing exercises and contains disease-relevant education modules, can help ease fatigue and improve life quality for people with sarcoidosis. The study (NCT05230693), sponsored by the Medical University of South Carolina, is…

The Multidisciplinary Sarcoidosis Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine has joined as a founding member of the Global Sarcoidosis Alliance, an initiative led by the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR). The alliance has nearly 40 founding members, with the…

The pulmonary microbiota — the collection of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that live inside the lung in people — is less diverse in individuals with stable sarcoidosis than in their healthy peers, a new study suggests. Notably, this imbalance was more pronounced for fungi than for bacteria. In…