When I woke up this morning, my husband was in the living room watching “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) for the umpteenth time. It was toward the end when — don’t worry, even though the movie is over 40 years old, I won’t offer any…

To help boost awareness of sarcoidosis and support those affected by the complex and often misunderstood disorder, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is hosting its first in-person training of its Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance (FSR-GSCA) volunteer patient leaders at the Cleveland Clinic. The training takes place…

Scientists at the University of Colorado are planning a study to better classify sarcoidosis as it affects the eyes, called ocular sarcoidosis. Having a grasp on the specific biological mechanisms that drive sarcoidosis in different patients could lead to more targeted treatments, researchers say. “Improving our ability to define…

People with sarcoidosis are significantly more likely to develop venous thromboembolism (VTE), which occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein, over 10 years than the general population, a nationwide study in Denmark suggests. And while there are substantial differences in clinical characteristics between those who develop VTE…

The percentage of natural killer (NK) immune cells in the airways were predictive of a more advanced stage of lung damage and multi-organ involvement in people with pulmonary sarcoidosis, according to a recent report. Altogether, the scientists believe these cells could be “a good prognostic marker” of a more…

Maintenance. It’s a concept I’m quite familiar with. Years ago, when I was following (and later working for) a weight loss program, maintenance was the dream. The idea was that once you reached your goal — when you’d lost the weight you wanted to lose and were the size…

Elevated blood levels of total blood cholesterol and low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) — commonly called the “good” cholesterol — showed a significant correlation with sarcoidosis, according to a retrospective study conducted in China. These findings suggest HDL and total blood cholesterol “could be regarded as…

An immunosuppressive medication that’s used to prevent organ rejection after transplantation successfully treated cutaneous sarcoidosis, a type of sarcoidosis of the skin, in most patients in a small clinical trial. Sirolimus, which suppresses a signaling pathway called mTOR, reduced or eliminated skin granulomas and its benefits persisted for…

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is linked to a 25% higher risk of developing sarcoidosis, according to a recent study in Sweden. The therapy consists of administering sex hormones, either estrogen alone or an estrogen and progesterone combination, to treat common menopausal symptoms such as “hot flashes.” The highest risk…

Whether I’m resting after a long day at the infusion center or busy working on my next big project, my TV is almost always on. It’s mostly background noise, something familiar so I don’t have to pay attention. It could be a “Law & Order” marathon or a…