A test that detects disease-specific antibodies in the blood could help to diagnose sarcoidosis more quickly and easily, according to a recent study. “More testing needs to be completed before this screening method is ready for clinical use, but it’s possible that could be a reality within a few…

When I was in high school, my mom and I began an ear-piercing competition. When I came home for breaks during college, we checked each other’s ears to see who had more. In grad school, she told me I was forbidden to pierce anything other than my ears. That’s when…

Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) treats African Americans with sarcoidosis as effectively as it does patients of other races, a study suggests. The study, “Acthar Gel in African Americans versus Non-African Americans with Symptomatic Sarcoidosis: Physician Assessment of Patient Medical Records,” was published in Therapeutics…

Nearly a quarter of sarcoidosis patients were found to have clinically silent cardiac involvement, in which standard heart symptoms are not observed, recent research indicated. Readily available cardiac screening tools, when used in combination, may help to rule out the presence of this hidden disease manifestation and avoid…

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…