Overview
Within Cleveland Clinic's Respiratory Institute, the Sarcoidosis Center serves as a single point of access for patients to receive the best care for their condition. With innovative methods of care, research and technology, we are 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 multidisciplinary 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 spectrum of specialists
- provide cutting-edge testing including 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 can affect quality of life for patients
- conduct research to understand the disease process of sarcoidosis and to find alternative treatments for care
Health Information
Sarcoidosis is a common and potentially severe disorder. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of patients with sarcoidosis will experience mild symptoms with a quick recovery. Other patients will develop long-term complications with little or no response to conventional steroidal therapy.
Anyone can get sarcoidosis, but the disease is found more commonly in African-Americans and affects individuals of Irish, German, Scandinavian, and Puerto Rican descent.
More Information
Learn more about sarcoidosis symptoms, causes and risks, diagnostic tests and procedures, treatments, and wellness tips.
- Overview of Sarcoidosis
- How Sarcoidosis is Diagnosed
- Sarcoidosis Treatment Options
- Sarcoidosis FAQs
- Sarcoidosis Glossary
- Sarcoidosis Resources
Free Guide to Sarcoidosis
Watch our In-Depth Videos and Download Your Free Guide to Sarcoidosis from Cleveland Clinic's Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence.
Healthy Reminders
When was your last pneumonia shot?
Pneumonia shots are needed every five to seven years.
Are you taking steroids for more than six months?
Remind your doctor to order your bone density test.
Are you getting enough sleep?
Research has shown that proper amounts of sleep and exercise along with a nutritiously balanced diet result in a body that is in top form, physically, mentally and spiritually.
Web Resources
Webinars
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
To make an appointment, please call 216.444.6503.
