Sarcoidosis is the growth of inflammatory cells, known as granulomas, that can deposit in different organs of the human body. Sarcoidosis can affect your lungs, heart, eyes, skin, kidneys, liver, and other organs. It may be caused by an immunological response to an unidentified trigger.
Cardiac sarcoidosis can be difficult to diagnose. In some cases, a biopsy of the heart may be used to make a definite diagnosis. However, since the granulomas are randomly distributed in the heart, a cardiac biopsy may be abnormal in only 30-50% of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.
Other tests that are used to help diagnose sarcoidosis include:
The goal of treatment for sarcoidosis is to prevent damage to organs. We use different immunosuppressive medications to treat active inflammation. These medications include steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, azathioprine, and infliximab. Each treatment is tailored to the individual patient.
The UR Medicine Comprehensive Sarcoidosis Program provides care to patients with multi-organ sarcoidosis or difficult to treat sarcoidosis.
Every patient is unique and may have different organ systems affected by the disease.
During your evaluation and treatment, you may see multiple specialists, including a cardiologist, pulmonologist, rheumatologist, and ophthalmologist, to name just a few. All of the specialists in our program communicate regularly and meet monthly to discuss complex cases which provides integrated care for patients.
Referrals to the center can be made by contacting the Pulmonology Clinic at (585) 275-4161 or the Advanced Heart Failure Program at (585) 273-3760.