Overview
Our Center
Within Cleveland Clinic's Respiratory Institute, the Sarcoidosis Center helps connect patients to the care they need for sarcoidosis. With innovative treatment methods, as well as leading research and technology, we’re committed to providing the most comprehensive care to patients with single and multi-organ disease involvement.
A Team Approach
Sarcoidosis often affects more than one organ, so patients may need to see more than one type of physician. At the Sarcoidosis Center, we make sure patients quickly see the best doctors for their case by using a team-based approach. Our team of doctors — who have expertise and an interest in sarcoidosis — includes specialists in pulmonology, cardiology, electrophysiology, neurology, ophthalmology, dermatology and rheumatology.
At Cleveland Clinic's Sarcoidosis Center, we:
- Offer individualized patient care with access to a variety of specialists.
- Provide cutting-edge testing. This includes advanced diagnostic bronchoscopies for complicated sarcoidosis cases, such as cardiac sarcoidosis, as well as small-fiber neuropathy and neurosarcoidosis through our Neurosarcoidosis Clinic.
- Minimize the degree to which sarcoidosis affects a patient’s quality of life.
- Conduct research to understand the disease process of sarcoidosis and to find alternative treatment options.
Schedule your first visit to the Sarcoidosis Center.
After you talk to the scheduling team, our nurse coordinator will reach out to you to help coordinate your first visit. The nurse coordinator will walk you through the process and let you know about testing, obtaining outside records and which specialists you should see on your first visit.
Resources
Our team of providers is here to provide support, education and guidance throughout the sarcoidosis treatment process. We offer educational webinars to help you learn more about the conditions. We also can connect you to support groups where you can talk to others with a similar experience.
Support Groups and Resources
- Join our monthly patient support group (currently virtual) - Contact Rhonda Jenkins, MPH Jenkinr7@ccf.org to sign up.
- Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/.
- Keep the Free Guide to Sarcoidosis component here.
Research & Clinical Trials
Clinical trials (or research studies) help us create the medicine of tomorrow. They provide hope through offering testing of new drugs, new surgical techniques or other treatments before they are widely available.
We can help you access hundreds of clinical trials across all specialty areas. Our new searchable online trials tool makes identifying treatment opportunities easier than ever.
Recommended Research Readings
Below is a list of recent peer-reviewed research articles about sarcoidosis written by Cleveland Clinic doctors and staff.
- Concomitant Castleman's Disease and Sarcoidosis
Rice, BL, Farver, CF, Pohlman, B, Burkey, BB, Parambil, JG. Am J Med Sci. 2011;341(3):257-259. - Development of a Sarcoidosis Murine Lung Granuloma Model Using Mycobacterium Superoxide Dismutase A Peptide
Swaisgood, CM, Oswald-Richter, K, Moeller, SD, Klemenc, JM, Ruple, LM, Farver, CF, Drake, JM, Culver, DA, Drake, WP. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011;44(2):166-174. - Efficacy of Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Small Fiber Neuropathy Associated with Sarcoidosis
Parambil, JG, Tavee, JO, Zhou, L, Pearson, KS, Culver, DA. Respir Med. 2011;105(1):101-105. - Sarcoidosis and Small-fiber Neuropathy
Tavee, J, Culver, DA. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2011 Jun;15(3):201-6. - Treatment of Sarcoidosis
Lazar,CA, Culver, DA. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2010;31(4):501-518. - A Concise Review of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
Baughman, RP, Culver, DA, Judson, MA. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 Mar 1;183(5):573-81. Epub 2010 Oct 29. - Downregulation of FAK-related Non-kinase Mediates the Migratory Phenotype of Human Fibrotic Lung Fibroblasts
Cai, GQ, Zheng, A, Tang, Q, White, ES, Chou, CF, Gladson, CL, Olman, MA, Ding, Q. Exp Cell Res. 2010;316(9):1600-1609. - Cellular Responses to Mycobacterial Antigens Are Present in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Used in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis
Oswald-Richter, KA, Culver, DA, Hawkins, C, Hajizadeh, R, Abraham, S, Shepherd, BE, Jenkins, CA, Judson, MA, Drake, WP. Infect Immun. 2009;77(9):3740-3748. - Gene Expression Profiling Identifies MMP-12 and ADAMDEC1 as Potential Pathogenic Mediators of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
Crouser, ED, Culver, DA, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009;179(10):929-938. - Infliximab Therapy Rescues Cyclophosphamide Failure in Severe Central Nervous System Sarcoidosis
Sodhi, M, Pearson, K, White, ES, Culver, DA. Respir Med. 2009;103(2):268-273.
For Medical Professionals
Patient Referrals
Our secure online service, Dr.Connect, provides referring physicians access to patient’s treatment progress with streamlined communication from Cleveland Clinic physicians to your office, allowing continued participation in the ongoing care of patients. With the best possible treatment plans and coordinated care, our team approach benefits both the patient and the referring physician.
Education
Committed to informing the medical community of advances and discoveries about sarcoidosis, the Cleveland Clinic Sarcoidosis Center provides opportunities for physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, and physician assistants to learn about current clinical care and research activities through its online presentations, seminars and health talks.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowships
Our pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowships provide board-certified general internists with the tools necessary to care for patients, who have complicated lung diseases and critical illnesses. During the three-year training period, which includes an 18-month core program and 18-month subspecialty track, fellows are exposed to a wide variety of medical problems in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
CMEs
Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Institute offers continuing medical education courses through the Center for Continuing Education. We are providers of AMA-approved continuing medical education (CME) units for physicians and physician assistants, and of continuing education units by the Ohio Nurses Association for nurses and by the Ohio Respiratory Care Board for respiratory therapists.
References
Recommended Readings
- Sarcoidosis: An Update for the Primary Care Physician, By Oluranti A. Aladesanmi, MD, MPH
Medscape: General Medicine, Volume 6 (2004) - View list of recent Sarcoidosis research
Appointments & Locations
Call 216.444.3613, option 1 to schedule a new patient visit. This will take you to central scheduling. Please tell them that you wish to be scheduled with the sarcoidosis center. You’ll receive a call back from our nurse coordinator in three to five business days to plan your visit to our center. You’ll also get information about obtaining outside records, testing and any consults to necessary specialists.
New patient process
What to expect with your first visit:
- Necessary testing for the first visit will be arranged by our nurse coordinator. Some of this testing may happen before or after your first visit. This may include tests like breathing tests, X-rays or ultrasounds. These tests are needed to determine how severe your sarcoidosis is and help your team to make appropriate treatment recommendations.
- At your first visit, you’ll meet with one of our sarcoidosis specialists. They will discuss your past symptoms and treatments for sarcoidosis. You’ll receive a comprehensive plan for testing and treatment based on your individual case.
- Based on what other organs are involved, you may meet with another specialist (for example, an eye doctor or heart doctor) at your first visit, or have one arranged for later to discuss specific symptoms/treatments.
- After your visit, you’ll meet with our scheduler to discuss follow-up visits and testing. Virtual visits can be arranged for most patients if transportation to the clinic is a challenge. Many tests can also be done locally for patients who are far from Cleveland Clinic.
Out of state patients
Local hotels:
Main Campus:
- Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic.
- Intercontinental Suites Hotel.
- Residence Inn by Marriott Cleveland University Circle/ Medical Center.
- The Tudor Arms Hotel Cleveland- a Double tree by Hilton.
Downtown:
- Doubletree Downtown.
- Playhouse Square.
- Hyatt Arcade.
- Westin Downtown.
- Aloft Downtown.
- Hampton Inn Downtown.
Beachwood:
- Embassy Suites Beachwood.
- Hotel Indigo Beachwood.
- Doubletree Beachwood.
- Residence Inn Beachwood.
- Homewood Suites Beachwood.
- Hampton Inn and Suites Beachwood.
Independence:
- Crowne Plaza Independence.
- Holiday Inn South.
- Doubletree Independence.
- Hyatt Place.
- La Quinta Inn Cleveland Independence.
Directions
Find your way around our main campus.
What to bring to your appointment
If you’ve had past imaging tests of any organs thought to be impacted by sarcoidosis, please bring disks with the images so that you can discuss with your physician. We also ask that you bring your medication list.
Current Events
- Joint our monthly patient support group (currently virtual) - Contact Rhonda Jenkins, MPH Jenkinr7@ccf.org to sign up.
- Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research - Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/global-clinic-alliance/.
- Sarcoidosis Awareness Month – April.
