What is pulmonary sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is a rare disease. Its cause is unknown. 它与一种叫做肉芽肿的不寻常的炎症有关. 肉芽肿是一组炎症组织，可以影响器官的工作方式. 结节病最常见于肺和淋巴结. But it can occur in almost any organ.

Sarcoidosis in the lungs is called pulmonary sarcoidosis. 有些人患有这种疾病并伴有身体其他部位的结节病. Other people have only lung disease. 在极少数情况下，人们在身体的其他部位有结节病，但没有肺. Pulmonary sarcoidosis changes the structure of the lungs. It can affect your breathing. 有时肺部炎症不需要治疗就会自行好转. But some people have an aggressive form of the disease. 即使经过治疗，也会导致终生(永久性)肺功能丧失.

What causes pulmonary sarcoidosis?

Experts don't know what causes pulmonary sarcoidosis. 这种疾病在非洲人和斯堪的纳维亚人后裔中更为常见. 一些专家认为细菌、病毒或化学物质可能引发这种疾病. It may also be genetic. This is an active area of research.

What are the symptoms of pulmonary sarcoidosis?

Many people with sarcoidosis don't have symptoms. They likely don't know they have the disease. It can affect many organs, causing a variety of symptoms. 肺结节病会减少肺所能容纳的空气量，导致肺僵硬.

Symptoms may be a bit different for each person. Symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath that often gets worse with activity

• Dry cough that won't go away

• Chest pain

• Wheezing

结节病也可引起与肺没有直接关系的症状，例如:

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)

• Fever

• 眼睛发炎、疼痛、灼烧、视力模糊和对光敏感

• Night sweats

• Pain in the joints and bones

• 面部、手臂或小腿出现皮疹、肿块和颜色变化

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Weight loss

其中许多症状可能是由其他健康问题引起的. See your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is pulmonary sarcoidosis diagnosed?

除了完整的健康史和体格检查外，您可能还需要进行以下检查:

• Chest X-ray. 这种影像学检查用于评估肺和心脏. 胸部x光片可以显示有关大小的重要信息, shape, and location of the lungs, large breathing tubes (bronchi), 胸腔中间分隔肺的区域(纵隔).

• CT scan. 这种成像测试使用x射线和计算机技术来制作身体的水平图像. CT扫描显示身体任何部位的详细图像，包括肺. CT scans are more detailed than regular X-rays. They can be used to diagnose lung diseases, watch disease progression, and assess response to treatment.

• Pulmonary function tests. 这些测试有助于测量肺部将空气进出肺部的能力. 这些测试通常是用特殊的机器来完成的.

• Blood tests. 这些可以用来检查血液中二氧化碳和氧气的含量, evaluate liver and kidney function, and look for infection and other diseases.

• Bronchoscopy. A long, thin, 末端有灯的软管(支气管镜)从喉咙伸入肺部. 这可以让医疗保健提供者看到支气管，肺的主要气道. It helps to evaluate and diagnose lung problems. 肺组织样本(活组织检查)和肺冲洗(洗肺)，从肺中取出细胞可以通过管子进行.

• Bronchoalveolar lavage. 无菌盐水溶液通过支气管镜进入肺部，然后吸出. 盐水从下呼吸道带走细胞. 这些细胞可以在显微镜下检查，以帮助发现炎症和感染. The test can help rule out certain causes.

• Lung biopsy. 从肺部取出一小块组织、细胞或液体，在显微镜下检查.

How is pulmonary sarcoidosis treated?

Treatment is generally done to control symptoms. 它还有助于改善受疾病影响的器官的功能. 类固醇药物，如强的松，有助于减少炎症. It's often taken by mouth. 其他药物，如甲氨蝶呤，也可以使用. They help prevent steroid-related side effects. 其他药物如英夫利昔单抗在其他药物不起作用时也会使用.

Sometimes no treatment is needed. Different treatments work better for different people. Sometimes more than 1 treatment is used. 大多数用于治疗结节病的药物会抑制免疫系统.

你也可以参加一个康复计划，包括教育、锻炼和支持. Severe cases of this disease are rare. 他们可能需要氧气治疗甚至肺移植.

Key points about pulmonary sarcoidosis

• Sarcoidosis is caused by inflammation. Most cases are found in the lungs and lymph nodes. But it can occur in almost any organ.

• Sarcoidosis in the lungs is called pulmonary sarcoidosis. 它会在肺部引起小块的炎症细胞，称为肉芽肿. They can affect how the lungs work.

• Experts don't know what causes this condition.

• 症状包括呼吸短促，通常随着活动而加重. 其他常见的症状还有干咳不停、胸痛和喘息.

• 治疗通常是为了控制症状和改善受疾病影响的器官的功能. Steroids are often used. 包括教育、锻炼和支持在内的康复计划也被使用.

Next steps

帮助您从医疗保健提供者那里获得最大收益的建议:

• 知道你访问的原因和你想要发生什么.

• 在拜访之前，写下你想要回答的问题.

• 带一个人来帮你问问题，并记住你的医疗保健提供者告诉你什么.

• 在就诊时，写下新诊断的名称，以及任何新的药物、治疗方法或测试. 也写下你的医疗保健提供者给你的任何新的指示.

• 了解为什么要开一种新药或治疗方法，以及它将如何帮助你. Also know what the side effects are.

• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.

• 了解为什么要推荐一个测试或程序，以及结果可能意味着什么.

• 知道如果你不吃药或不做检查或不做手术会发生什么.

• 如果你有后续预约，写下日期、时间和目的.

• 如果您有疑问，请了解如何与您的医疗保健提供者联系. Ask how to contact your healthcare team on evenings, weekends, and holidays if you have urgent concerns.