Finding out that you or a loved one has sarcoidosis may initially bring a sense of mild relief. Now, at least all those symptoms are no longer a mystery and the disease is manageable. But how best to treat it can quickly bring on a whole new set of concerns.
Sarcoidosis symptoms can vary, depending on the organs it involves as well as how severe it is. This complex, inflammatory condition usually affects a person’s lungs and lymph nodes. But it can also occur in any other organ systems like the liver, heart, brain, eyes, skin, bones, muscles, and kidneys.
As a lung doctor and the director of the Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence at Temple University Hospital, I know how a whole-body approach to sarcoidosis treatment can help patients have the best possible quality of life. And with a disease that can be severe, even fatal, that’s important.
What is multidisciplinary sarcoidosis care?
There’s no single type of doctor that diagnoses and treats sarcoidosis alone. However, Temple's multidisciplinary approach to managing sarcoidosis allows for dynamic decision-making, meaning patients don’t get referred from one specialist to another - their care journey is shaped by a collaborative team of specialists. These can include:
Led by a coordinating doctor, this team of experts works to form a full-picture care plan unique to each patient. The goal is to help patients live longer, healthier lives while preventing organ damage caused by inflammation.
A patient’s care team may prescribe corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents including biologic medications to reduce inflammation. They may also need treatments for symptoms in other parts of the body, like the joints or skin.
Should a patient’s sarcoidosis lead to lung damage, a lung doctor can recommend treatment to help them breathe more easily. This might include medications directed towards fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension, oxygen therapy, or pulmonary rehabilitation. In severe cases, some patients may require a lung transplant.
What sets Temple apart
Sarcoidosis is an uncommon disease affecting only about 200,000 people in the U.S. at any given time. Not all care centers are equipped to manage it. Doctors at smaller local hospitals may not have the specialized skills to diagnose the disease, which requires many types of tests. They may also lack the resources to address the varied symptoms, especially when they are severe. Access to a multidisciplinary approach to management is another issue in taking care of this multisystem disease.
The Temple Lung Center is a designated WASOG Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence. This distinction is hard to achieve. As one of only two centers in the state of Pennsylvania with this distinction, it recognizes our skill and experience with sarcoidosis. To earn designation as a Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence, a facility must have sarcoidosis experts in at least two specialties, showcasing dedication to leadership, research, and support for sarcoidosis patients and professionals.
Our multidisciplinary approach means that every patient gets personalized care. Our specialists can manage a person’s sarcoidosis from every angle with the most advanced treatment options. These include groundbreaking clinical trials, the majority of which are available to patients at Temple Lung Center, distinguishing our center from most other centers. And Temple’s highly active Lung Transplant Program is a resource for patients with severe lung damage. For patients interested in additional support and resources, we encourage them to join our virtual support groups.
The bottom line
Sarcoidosis isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition. And there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For the best outcome, you need a team of experts. To learn more, call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) or request an appointment online.
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