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Sarcoidosis

X-ray of lungs in sacroidosis showing honeycoming. Courtesy Wikimedia.
X-ray of Lungs in Sacroidosis Showing Honeycoming. Courtesy Wikimedia.

What Is Sarcoidosis?

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]arcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease characterized by hard granulomas and inflammation of the alveoli in lungs that occurrs in 80% of patients.

Alveoli are the tiny one cell thick round structures that are clustered at the ends of air passages in the lungs where oxygen from air inhaled is exchanged for carbon dioxide from blood which is breathed out.

Q: What are granulomas?

A: Granulomas are collections of macrophages (white blood cells) that targeted and enclosed but failed to destroy a foreign substance that entered the body.  In turn, the macrophages become encased by other immune cells and fibroblasts and collagen. They can occur in any organ.

Presently, the etiology, or cause, of sarcoidosis is unknown, although it is thought the predisposition is genetic with a local immune mechanism. This disease has flares when active and remissions when symptoms subside.

Referral to a specialist is important for proper treatment and monitoring. The main treatment for severe active sarcoidosis is prednisone, a type of steroid that reduces inflammation in the body. In most people, prednisone relieves symptoms within a couple of months, although most people need to take prednisone for 12 months or longer. Long-term use of prednisone, especially at high doses, can cause serious side effects. Side effects include bone loss, elevated blood sugar, and high blood pressure.

When wheezing and coughing are a problem, inhaler devices are used to deliver medicine into the lungs in order to help open the airways.1

Ibuprofen is prescribed if sarcoidosis is causing joint pain. Steroid creams are prescribed for skin problems.

Sarcoidosis affects 10 to 20 person per 100,000.

What Is Sarcoidosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [↩]

Autoimmune Disorders In Celiac Disease

Each antibody binds to a specific antigen; an interaction similar to a lock and key. Courtesy Wikipedia.
Each antibody binds to a specific antigen; an interaction similar to a lock and key. Courtesy Wikipedia.

What Are Autoimmune Disorders?

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]utoimmune disorders refer to those conditions that involve an abnormal immune attack on the body’s own tissues perpetuated by the production of autoantibodies directed against the body, or “self.” Auto means self.

Q: Why does the immune system attack the body?

A: The exact answer is not yet known why the immune system turns against body tissue or “self.” 

Normally, the immune system protects the body from harmful substances and pathogens and produces antibodies against the offending foreign substances, called antigens, to get rid of them. The immune system (humoral) thereafter remembers all antigens and is ready for the next encounter should it happen.

Production of autoimmune antibodies is catastrophic because there is no turning off the readiness to attack a remembered threat (antigen) which is unfortunately “self.” 

Yes, steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs can control symptoms, but nothing can undo the memory programmed into the immune system to produce autoantibodies. There is an enormous research effort ongoing for the answer. 

Autoimmune disorders cover a wide range of diseases that may target only a particular organ, such as autoimmune hepatitis (liver), while others are systemic because the autoantibodies target a particular tissue that is part of more than one organ, such as scleroderma (connective tissue).

Autoimmune diseases as a group affect approximately 8.5% of people worldwide.

What Are Autoimmune Disorders In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?