News

This Sarcoidosis Awareness Month ‘Stand Up for Sarc’

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is offering ways to participate in National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, observed each April, to call attention to sarcoidosis and the 175,000 U.S. residents thought to be living with the disease. Despite advances in research, sarcoidosis remains challenging to diagnose and…

Earlier moves to specialist, better therapies welcome, patients say

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…

FSR’s Inaugural Sarcoidosis Crystal Awards Gala set for May 24

Four sarcoidosis patients and researchers who work to better understand the disease and raise awareness about it will be honored at the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR)’s Inaugural Sarcoidosis Crystal Awards Gala  Celebrating Connections, Collaboration, and Catalyzing Research. The gala, which will take place May 24 from 6…

LAS system may not reflect risks for lung transplant patients

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…

Abnormal activation of immune cells, fibroblasts seen in granulomas

Researchers have uncovered a network of abnormally activated immune cells and fibroblasts — the primary active cell of connective tissue — within granulomas, the clumps of cells that cause sarcoidosis. The key players in granuloma formation include metabolically reprogrammed immune macrophages, immune T-helper (Th) cells producing pro-inflammatory molecules, and…

Trial tests app that targets fatigue in sarcoidosis

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…

RV Damage on MRI Linked to Heart Events in Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Findings of defects in the heart’s right ventricle, as assessed with an MRI scan, can predict the occurrence of cardiovascular events in people with confirmed or suspected cardiac sarcoidosis, a review study showed. Particularly, scarring in the right ventricle muscle was a “strong independent predictor” of sudden heart-related death,…