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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffIn about two-thirds of people with sarcoidosis, the condition resolves with no lasting consequences. But in some people, sarcoidosis can become chronic and lead to complications, including:
- Lung scarring. Untreated pulmonary sarcoidosis can lead to irreversible scarring (fibrosis) of the tissue between the air sacs in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
- Eye disease. Some people with sarcoidosis develop eye problems. Inflammation can affect almost any part of your eye and usually causes watering and redness. In a few cases, sarcoidosis can lead to blindness or serious eye diseases, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
- Skin disease. Sarcoidosis can affect your skin. One common complication is a condition called erythema nodosum, which is characterized by tender, red bumps that occur primarily on your shins. The bumps can range in number from just a few to more than 20 on each leg. Erythema nodosum can also be associated with aching or swelling in your legs and may be accompanied by arthritis of your elbows, ankles, wrists and hands. Generally, erythema nodosum is temporary.
- Nervous system problems. A small percentage of people with sarcoidosis develop problems related to the central nervous system when granulomas form in the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation in the facial nerves can cause facial paralysis.
- Fertility problems. In men, sarcoidosis can affect the testes and possibly cause infertility. Severe sarcoidosis may make it difficult for some women to become pregnant, but many women with the disease give birth to healthy children. If you're planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor.
- Heart and liver problems. Sarcoidosis that affects your heart can cause a number of complications, including an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and a weak heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). Granulomas that form in your liver can affect its ability to function.
In a few cases, sarcoidosis can be fatal. Death usually occurs as a result of progressive scarring of the lungs and respiratory failure, or as the result of a heart problem, which may lead to sudden death.
