For the first time in Israel, the Lung Institute at Rambam Medical Center has established a clinic dedicated to patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis, in order to help patients cope with the disease that may be complex, under one roof.
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that is not contagious and is usually not dangerous. In most cases it is defined as ‘mild’ and even passes on its own or with the help of medication within a few months or a few years. In the minority of patients, the disease remains permanent and chronic and sometimes severe, however the good news is that there are treatments that help deal with the accompanying symptoms.
Sarcoidosis – unpleasant to recognize
This disease is characterized by the formation of inflammatory cells that form microscopic structures called “granulomas.” The causes of the disease are unknown and it usually appears in young adults (ages 20-40), but can occur at almost any age. In 90 percent of patients these granulomas appear healthy and usually cause symptoms of cough and shortness of breath. These inflammatory cells can appear in a variety of different organs in the body in addition to the lungs and cause symptoms depending on the organ involved, such as skin rashes, arrhythmias, vision disorders, neurological disorders and more.
The diagnosis of sarcoidosis is most often made by pulmonologists, usually after a sample of the inflammatory findings that appear in the lungs (lymph nodes or inflammatory processes in the lung tissue itself). After confirming the diagnosis and depending on its severity, the need for appropriate treatment is decided.
Due to a need that arose mainly from the field by patients with the disease, a dedicated clinic for the treatment of sarcoidosis was opened for the first time in Israel, at the Lung Institute of the Rambam Medical Campus, where patients undergo a comprehensive assessment of their disease condition and appropriate treatment.
In light of the fact that the disease may involve other body systems beyond the respiratory system, there is active collaboration with a variety of relevant departments that exist in Rambam Medical Campus such as cardiology, rheumatology, ophthalmology, liver, nephrology, skin and more. The entire medical process, from diagnosis to determination and provision of customized treatment.
Dr. Elad Moore, a physician at the Lung Institute and a senior physician in the internal medicine department at Rambam Medical Center, adds: “Father and Mother” in managing the treatment of the disease. The feeling is that they need to switch between several doctors and actually manage their “disease file” on their own. We seek to remove this burden from patients by ensuring that all follow-up and medical treatment related to sarcoidosis is within the designated clinic and within the walls of Rambam Medical Center. This allows the patient comfort, shortening waiting times, and especially peace of mind that someone is taking care of. “