Is there a connection between sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis?

[CBG23]

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On page 382 of First Aid 2010, the mnemonic for sarcoidosis lists Rheumatoid arthritis as one of it's key points - I had never heard of an association between them before and looks through a couple of books to no avail. What's the deal with this?

 

[JelloBrain]

I think the similarity is in how both diseases can behave and their treatment modalities-auto-immune, steroids, etc. There have been a couple of cases reported of sarcoidosis developing in people with RA. However it is quite difficult to differentiate the joint involvement presentation between the two.

 

[USMLE01]

On page 382 of First Aid 2010, the mnemonic for sarcoidosis lists Rheumatoid arthritis as one of it's key points - I had never heard of an association between them before and looks through a couple of books to no avail. What's the deal with this?

chronic inflammation in RA is the cause. i cant cite any sources. just remember either hearing or reading it somewhere.

 

[aRnonymous]

I know this is an old thread, and sorry to bring it back from the dead, but I was hoping someone could clarify this concept a little. Are those with sarcoidosis more likely to get RA? Or is the difference solely that they may present similarly (with joint pain and the pattern of it) and that treatment is similar? And the difference being in how that pain is caused, where in RA its due to inflammation causing joint cartilage destruction, whereas in sarcoidosis the joint pain is caused by noncaseating granulomas and to my understanding the pain is not as severe

 

[JohnGT]

JelloBrain has it correct. Both disease processes present and behavior similarly, but pathophysiology is completely different. Nevertheless, I suspect the reason FA listed RA as part of cause of Sarcoidosis is because antiTNF therapy used for RA has been shown to cause Sarcoidosis.

Take a look at this Journal Rheumatology clinical case:

http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/07/03/648.html

 

[aRnonymous]

JelloBrain has it correct. Both disease processes present and behavior similarly, but pathophysiology is completely different. Nevertheless, I suspect the reason FA listed RA as part of cause of Sarcoidosis is because antiTNF therapy used for RA has been shown to cause Sarcoidosis.

Take a look at this Journal Rheumatology clinical case:

http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/07/03/648.html

Hmm, very interesting, thank you for the explanation, that makes sense