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.