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Another cause of shortness of breath: Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.

Although asthma and COPD are the most common respiratory system diseases, sarcoidosis, which is less common than these, is a disease that especially affects women.

What is sarcoidosis disease?

Although the lungs are the most common, it is a multisystem disease of unknown cause that can affect all organs.

How does it develop?

Although the cause is not known exactly, it is thought to occur as a result of cellular immune response after antigen triggering.

How is the diagnosis of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis made?

The patient's complaints are evaluated and the diagnosis is made with a biopsy sample taken as a result of radiological, laboratory and interventional procedures, flexible bronchoscopy (fob) or intrabronchial ultrasound (ebus).

Treatment and follow-up:

According to the scadding staging criteria (total 5 stages: 0,1,2,3,4), drug-free follow-up or treatment can be started on an individual basis, depending on the stage of the disease and the patient's complaints. The most commonly used drugs today are corticosteroids, antimetabolites and immunosuppressant group (anti TNF) drugs.

Prognosis: Although it generally responds to treatment and improves spontaneously even without medication, the disease may progress and become irreversible when stage 4. Lung transplantation is recommended for those with stage 4 pulmonary sarcoidosis.