Sarcoidosis-Associated Disability

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown cause(s) which imposes a burden on patient's lives. Various aspects of sarcoidosis may account for this aggravating influence, such as the relatively young age at disease onset, the often chronic nature of the disease, the unpredictable course, and the broad range of often persistent symptoms. In addition to specific organ-related symptoms causing functional impairments, sarcoidosis patients are disabled by less-specific symptoms, including fatigue, everyday cognitive failure, symptoms suggestive of small fiber neuropathy, pain, and physical impairments. These symptoms may have a major influence on patients' daily activities and their social and professional lives. Hence, it is important to identify these disabling symptoms, as this will ultimately enable health-care providers to tailor interventions to individual patients. In view of the wide variety of symptoms, not limited to one discipline, a multidisciplinary approach focusing on somatic as well as psychosocial aspects is recommended for this erratic disorder.