Kidney symptoms
Löfgren’s syndrome is a form of acute sarcoidosis associated with a typical combination of symptoms and occurs primarily in women. It is a very acute condition that requires rapid treatment. The classic so-called symptom triad includes the erythema nodosum, arthritis and a bihiliary lymphadenopathy.
The erythema nodosum is a certain type of rash with a nodular reddening of the fatty tissue under the skin. It occurs mainly on the lower legs and is very painful for those affected when pressure is applied. Arthritis, i.e. inflammation of the joints, occurs in Löfgren’s syndrome primarily in the ankle joints, but can also affect the knees or elbows.
Biphilary lymphadenopathy is the pathological change in the lymph nodes at both lung roots, i.e. from both the right and left lung. In addition, Löfgren’s syndrome can cause more general symptoms. These include fever, a feeling of fatigue and tiredness. Muscle pain and coughing may also occur.
Types of Sarcoidosis
Otherwise, the chronic form of sarcoidosis often creeps in very slowly over months. Initial symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath under stress, weight loss and coughing can occur before the disease then manifests itself in various organs or even just one organ. In over 90% of patients with sarcoidosis, the lungs are affected, and an x-ray is used to distinguish between different types of the disease:
- Type 1: diffuse enlargement of the lung root on both sides (vessels, bronchi and lymph nodes meet at the lung root);
- Type 2: diffuse enlargement of the lung root on both sides and also changes in the lung tissue, e.g. nodules;
- Type 3: Changes in lung tissue without enlargement of the lung root;
- Type 4: chronic lung tissue alteration of more than 2 years duration with connective tissue remodeling (strand and scar formation, cysts and blisters may form);
Summary
The symptoms of sarcoidosis can be very varied, as sarcoidosis is a systemic disease, i.e. it affects the whole body and can have effects on any organ. The best known and most commonly affected organ is the lung, which typically causes breathing difficulties, coughing and chest pain. Especially in chronic sarcoidosis, other organs, such as the skin, are also affected, which can manifest itself in various types of rashes.
The lymph nodes are also typically affected with swelling, often in the groin or armpits. There are also a few special syndromes, such as Löfgren’s syndrome, which manifests itself in a classic constellation of a few symptoms.
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