Leukeran (chlorambucil)  is a chemotherapy agent used to treat certain forms of leukemia. It is used selectively to treat sarcoidosis patients who do not respond to corticosteroids. How Leukeran works Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease in which immune cells surround threats, but instead of destroying the threat…

Remicade (infliximab) is a monoclonal antibody therapy developed by Janssen and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat several inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. The treatment also can be used for sarcoidosis when patients do not respond to…

Rituximab is a medication that targets immune system cells called B-cells, and can be used to treat sarcoidosis. Rituximab, marketed as Rituxan and manufactured by Genentech, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat rheumatoid arthritis; blood cancers…

Pentoxifylline is a treatment that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to improve blood flow. It can also be used to treat sarcoidosis. How pentoxifylline works In addition to improving blood flow, pentoxifylline inhibits the synthesis of a pro-inflammatory, or immune-activating factor, called…

Sarcoidosis is characterized by clumps of immune cells called granulomas that build up in one or more parts of the body. These can cause chronic inflammation and prevent the normal function of organs. There is no cure for sarcoidosis, but there are various therapies that can help manage the symptoms of…

Humira (adalimumab), is a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor marketed by AbbVie. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and several other autoimmune diseases. An autoimmune disorder is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the…

Thalomid (thalidomide) is a treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and usually used in combination with other medicines to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells, and alone or in combination to treat a form of leprosy. Thalidomide may be used…

Acthar Gel is a repository corticotropin injection that is distributed by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of 19 conditions, including pulmonary sarcoidosis. Acthar Gel was first approved by…

Patients with sarcoidosis have a hyperactive immune system that leads to widespread inflammation. The hallmark of sarcoidosis is the appearance of clumps of white blood cells, called granulomas, that can interfere with the function of the organs and tissues in which they develop, particularly the lungs, but also…