Treatment with repository corticotropin (RCI), such as Acthar Gel, may protect the lungs from prednisone-induced damage and improve the outcome in patients with symptomatic pulmonary sarcoidosis, according to results of a clinical trial (NCT02188017). The findings, “Repository Corticotropin For Chronic Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.” were published in the journal Lung.
Loyola Medicine has just performed its 900th transplant, reaching a new milestone in its lung transplant program for patients with conditions affecting the lungs like sarcoidosis. Loyola has outperformed all other transplant centers in Illinois, with three times as many transplants as all the remaining centers combined. In 1988 the…
During Rare Disease Week 2017 on Capitol Hill, the nonprofit Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) co-cohosted a briefing to members of Congress stressing the importance of National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month in April. The FSR says recognizing the month would draw more attention to, enhance awareness of, and promote more…
The third annual national awareness campaign “Seek Answers. Inspire Results” aims to bring attention to patients with sarcoidosis. The campaign, a collaboration between the CHEST Foundation and the Foundation of Sarcoidosis Research (FSR), is set to coincide with the National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month in April. Although sarcoidosis is a treatable condition…
An analysis of the usefulness of chest X-ray screening for sarcoidosis among patients with a certain type of eye inflammation (uveitis) failed to answer the question of whether it might be better to omit X-ray screening from initial evaluations in favor of more sensitive imaging techniques. Researchers stated that this failure…
Most patients with sarcoidosis have a similar risk of cancer compared to the general population, but some patients with more a more advanced form of the disease may have twice the risk of developing blood cancer, according to results from recent research. The study, “Risk Of Malignancy Among Patients With…
A recent review discussed other options besides prednisone and methotrexate in treating sarcoidosis, including antimetabolites similar in action to methotrexate, antimalarial agents, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) gel, biological agents, and antimycobacterial therapy, which is normally used to treat tuberculosis. The review, “Sarcoidosis: treatments beyond prednisone and methotrexate,” was published…
Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy, alone or combined with infliximab, may significantly ease symptoms of sarcoidosis-associated small fiber neuropathy (SSFN), according to a retrospective analysis study. The report, “Sarcoidosis-associated small fiber neuropathy in a large cohort: Clinical aspects and response to IVIG and anti-TNF alpha treatment” was published…
Measuring the levels of the blood marker soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with suspected sarcoidosis offers more sensitive diagnostic guidance than other commonly used markers, and allows physicians to identify patients with multiple organ involvement, according to a recent study. The marker also was seen to correspond to disease…
Closely monitoring the effect of steroid treatment in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis can help detect any resistance that may develop against the treatment and help doctors identify patients who might need increased doses of immunosuppressive therapy. Cardiac sarcoidosis, or sarcoidosis of the heart, is a medical…
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