I recently recorded my first episode as co-host of a podcast about arthritis — defining it, differentiating the various types, and discussing how it affects us. Our group of co-hosts included people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren’s syndrome, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and sarcoidosis. I think we raised more…

It feels like something is missing for me this month. For the past two years, really. Before 2020, my Aprils were full of events, get-togethers, support, and connection with my sarcoidosis family. Now, we’re all in our own homes, saying again how much we miss each other as we get…

When I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 2013, I had no idea what was coming. Heck, I couldn’t even pronounce my condition (and truthfully, I still mispronounce it at times). All I knew was that I had red marks on my face, and my lungs were apparently in decline. Ah,…

Having an ultrasound of the neck may be useful for diagnosing certain cases of sarcoidosis — and for ruling out other similar conditions, a new study highlights. In fact, statistical models based on ultrasound measures used in the study were shown to accurately identify 90% of patients with and…

I’m grateful. On Rare Disease Day, and since, I’m grateful. On this day of consequence and nonsense, of war and peace, of movement and stagnation, of highest courts and lowest valleys, of pandemic and hope, I’m grateful. I’m even grateful for sarcoidosis, or at least my version of…

The risks of death and rejection after heart transplant for people with advanced cardiac sarcoidosis were similar to those of patients who had transplants for other types of heart disease, according to an analysis of a transplant recipient registry. These findings suggest that a heart transplant is a safe…

“Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha-cha.” — Robert Brault This is exactly what sarcoidosis is like. It’s like we’re living in the song “Cha-Cha Slide.” Having sarcoidosis is a never-ending dance of symptoms, doctors,…

Females with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis experience chest pain and palpitations more frequently than males, but their heart is affected less severely by the condition, a study suggests. Yet, the incidence of either death from all causes or significant ventricular arrhythmia — an abnormal rhythm in the heart’s lower chambers…

We’re all familiar with the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. When faced with stress or danger, we go through physiological changes that enable us to either battle a predator (fight) or escape the situation (flight). However, there is another option, although we probably wouldn’t choose it willingly: to freeze. That’s…

aTyr Pharma has announced that its investigational immunomodulatory therapy for pulmonary sarcoidosis will now be called efzofitimod instead of ATYR1923. The change comes after the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Nonproprietary Name (INN) expert committee selected efzofitimod as the generic name…