JaimeS
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,408
- Location
- Silicon Valley, CA
So I don't even remember how I got there, but I stumbled across Wikipedia's page on Neurosarcoidosis. If you don't have heavy-duty neurological symptoms this may not ring any bells for you, but it certainly did for me:
Of course, this can only be diagnosed on autopsy of the brain.
I just think it's so interesting - I get to the point where I think I've seen every ME mimic there is and then I find a new one. This could also fit a few Lymies I think.
All sarcoidosis is autoimmune; in this case, Infliximab is used to treat, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha.
Imagine my shock when I didn't see this one up on PR on a search except once, in a list with other illnesses. This could be a real missed diagnosis for some.
-J
- Abnormalities of the cranial nerves
- Involvement of the facial nerve, which may lead to reduced power on one or both sides of the face (65% resp 35% of all cranial nerve cases) reduction in visual perception due to optic nerve involvement
- Rarer symptoms are:
- double vision (oculomotor nerve, trochlear nerve or abducens nerve)
- decreased sensation of the face (trigeminal nerve),
- hearing loss
- vertigo (vestibulocochlear nerve)
- swallowing problems (glossopharyngeal nerve)
- weakness of the shoulder muscles (accessory nerve)
- weakness of the tongue (hypoglossal nerve).
- Visual problems may also be the result of papilledema (swelling of the optic disc) due to obstruction by granulomas of the normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation.[1]
- Seizures (mostly of the tonic-clonic/"grand mal" type) are present in about 15%, and may be the presenting phenomenon in 10%.[1]
- Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) occurs in 3-26% of cases. Symptoms may include headache and nuchal rigidity (being unable to bend the head forward). It may be acute or chronic.[1]
- Accumulation of granulomas in particular areas of the brain can lead to abnormalities in the function of that area. If the granulomas are large, they can exert a mass effect and cause headache and increase the risk of seizures.
- Obstruction of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, too, can cause headaches, visual symptoms (as mentioned above) and other features of raised intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus[1]
- Involvement of the spinal cord is rare, but can lead to abnormal sensation or weakness in one or more limbs, or cauda equina symptoms (incontinence to urine or stool, decreased sensation in the buttocks).[1]
- Granulomas in the pituitary gland, leading to all the usual pituitary issues you'd expect
- Psychiatric problems in 20% of cases
- Peripheral neuropathy has been reported in up to 15% of cases
- Occasionally:
- Dyspnea
- arthralgia
- lupus pernio (red facial rash)
- eye inflammation
- liver or heart may become involved
- Dyspnea
Of course, this can only be diagnosed on autopsy of the brain.
I just think it's so interesting - I get to the point where I think I've seen every ME mimic there is and then I find a new one. This could also fit a few Lymies I think.
All sarcoidosis is autoimmune; in this case, Infliximab is used to treat, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha.
Imagine my shock when I didn't see this one up on PR on a search except once, in a list with other illnesses. This could be a real missed diagnosis for some.
-J
Last edited: