Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine

Mount Sinai Sarcoidosis Support Group

Patient/Family Information

Background & Cause

arcoidosis has been known for a long time, but its cause and cure have not been identified. It seems to impact people in many different ways, and can be found amongst family members or co-workers, or as single cases. No one knows if there are reasons why patients with certain organ involvement are found in certain areas of the world. Nor is it known why there can be clusters within families or in work environments. Or why non-smokers tend to be diagnosed more often than smokers. (But don’t start or continue to smoke with sarcoidosis!) Statistics show a higher incidence in health care workers, but that may be a statistical factor attributed to their greater attention to monitoring their own health care. No one knows who is likely to get sarcoidosis.

Why did I get it?

The cause of sarcoidosis is not known. Researchers, including your physicians at Mount Sinai Medical Center, have been working diligently for over 80 years to find the cause so that they can then work toward finding a cure. Their work continues. Sarcoidosis can affect anyone, from any race, socioeconomic, gender, geographic background or age group, although most often it is found in people ranging from 20 to 40 years old. Once viewed to be a rare disease, it is now found worldwide. In the United States, it is more common in African-Americans than whites. At Mount Sinai it is about 50% / 50%.