About Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown cause, characterized by the formation of granulomas, clumps of inflammatory cells, in one or more organs in the body. Sarcoidosis affects people of all ages, with incidence peaking between 20 and 39 years of age. Approximately 1.2 million people worldwide currently live with sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis in the lungs is called pulmonary sarcoidosis. The prognosis for patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis ranges from benign and resolving without treatment to chronic, progressive disease. Chronic, unresolved inflammation in the lungs may result in scarring (fibrosis) that permanently damages the lung tissue and can lead to lung failure and death. The current standard of care for patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis involves treatment with corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) and other immunosuppressive therapies (e.g., methotrexate), which have limited evidence of effectiveness and can cause serious long-term side effects. There is a need for new treatment options for sarcoidosis patients with progressive disease.