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…

Tears in blood vessels of the heart can occur in people with cardiac sarcoidosis, a case report found, although the incidence of this complication appears to be low. The report, “Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in cardiac sarcoidosis,” was published in Oxford Medical Case Reports. Spontaneous coronary…

I eat well, get adequate sleep, and lead a balanced lifestyle overall. My routine includes trying to keep my life as stress-free as possible. But despite my best intentions, an event invariably occurs to disrupt my attempts to maintain calmness. Sometimes it’s an unexpected household issue or a sick dog…

Depression and anxiety may worsen the quality of life and lung function of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, a study has found. The findings of the study, “Psychological burden associated with worse clinical outcomes in sarcoidosis,” were published in the journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research. Statistics…

I miss many things about life before my sarcoidosis diagnosis. On that list are good health, get-togethers with family and friends, and trips. The ability to work a full-time job is high on the list, too. Some people might wish that they didn’t have to work, but I’m the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the designation of breakthrough therapy to Ofev (nintedanib) for the treatment of patients with sarcoidosis and other types of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). The breakthrough designation is given to medications that provide significant advantages over…

I don’t cry often. So, one morning recently, as I stared out of the window at breakfast, I was surprised when tears started streaming down my face. I had been feeling worn out and overwhelmed for weeks, fearing that the life I’ve rebuilt would come crumbling down. I hadn’t felt…

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) significantly reduced disease symptoms in people with sarcoidosis, and helped to reduce their daily dose of corticosteroids, a small study suggests. The study, “Mycophenolate mofetil as an alternative treatment in sarcoidosis,” was published in the…

The current scoring system used to assess the urgency of lung transplants, called LAS (lung allocation score), fails to predict the risk of death in people with sarcoidosis, a single center study suggests. The study “Mortality for sarcoidosis patients on the transplant wait list in the…