Post sarcoidosis chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic Fatigue associated with Sarcoidosis

Fatigue is one of the most commonest complains reported by patients with sarcoidosis (in around two thirds) (1)

• in a majority of cases it is under recognized by the health professionals
• skeletal muscle weakness and reduced exercise tolerance is considered to be main features (1)
• it results in substantial reduction of health and also has a negative effect on quality of life (1,2)
• fever, weight loss, general malaise, depression, and raised C reactive protein may be associated with fatigue (2)

In some patients fatigue seems to persist even after remission of the disease.

This is known as

• post-sarcoidosis chronic fatigue syndrome
• and include a complex of clinical features such as incapacitating fatigue, low spirit, wide-spread myalgia and sleep disturbances (1)

Reference:

• 1. Grutters JC et al. Chapter 9 - Sarcoidosis. Eur Respir Mon 2009;46:126-154
• 2. Dempsey OJ et al. Sarcoidosis. BMJ. 2009 Aug 28;339:b3206