Intermediate monocytes, a type of immune cell, may contribute to the development and progression of sarcoidosis through the production of TARC — a molecule that attracts other specific immune cells linked to inflammation, according to a small study. These findings point to intermediate monocytes and TARC as potential treatment targets…

More than 55 million people plan to travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving this year, according to AAA. But I won’t be among them. After two exhausting trips to Cleveland, all within a month, this self-proclaimed worst traveler is staying home. I love to travel, but trips wear…

Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection, or RCI) can improve sarcoidosis symptoms, a real-world study shows. Titled “Repository corticotropin injection in patients with advanced symptomatic sarcoidosis: retrospective analysis of medical records,” the study was published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease. Acthar Gel, marketed…

Before my diagnosis, I thought of myself as a traditionalist, at least when it came to the holidays. I baked cookies, decorated the house, and shopped for the perfect gift for everyone on my list. I planned get-togethers for family and friends and went to great lengths to pull off…

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is launching a fundraising initiative to help improve treatment for advanced lung diseases, including sarcoidosis. The fundraising effort — called the Lung Health Research Accelerator Fund — aims to generate a total $20 million for the creation of a new research…

It was my initial desire to explain my sarcoidosis diagnosis to the people around me. Whether they were individuals I have known for years or those I had recently met, I wanted to be honest and open. But one day I stopped doing that. It’s not that I don’t…

The soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) is more sensitive and specific than the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), one of the most common diagnostic biomarkers of sarcoidosis, at identifying people who might have the disease, a study found. The findings were reported in the study, “Sensitivity and specificity of…

As I mentioned in a previous column, relationships can be tricky when managing a condition like sarcoidosis. Unfortunately, not everyone can adjust to the challenges of a chronic health condition. But I’ve found that pets are a different story. Before I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, my husband and I…

Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy — a relatively new method of collecting lung tissue for analysis — safely and successfully helps to provide a definitive sarcoidosis diagnosis when the usual and less-invasive diagnostic tools are insufficient, a Portuguese study suggests. The study, “Diagnostic yield and safety of transbronchial…

Getting out of bed in the mornings has become an adventure. Even if I remember to guzzle water and rise slowly to prevent the onset of lightheadedness from my postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, there’s my trick leg to deal with. Several months ago, my left leg began checking out…