Sarcoid arthritis: a review of clinical features, pathology and therapy

The rheumatic manifestations of sarcoidosis include inflammatory arthritis, periarticular soft tissue swelling, tenosynovitis, dactylitis, bone involvement and myopathy. Two types of arthritis that differ in clinical course and prognosis are recognized. Acute sarcoid arthritis is self-limiting and resolves without permanent sequelae. Chronic sarcoid arthritis although less common can progress to cause joint deformities. There are proliferative and inflammatory changes in the synovium and non-caseating granulomas are seen in half of patients. The pathogenesis of sarcoid arthritis is not well understood, however genetic and environmental factors are important. Drug therapy of sarcoid arthritis with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, corticosteroids, colchicine, antimalarials and/or immunosuppressive medications is based mainly on open label uncontrolled studies. This review focuses on the current knowledge on the various features of sarcoid arthritis including clinical presentation, course, imaging, and pathology. Recent developments in the usage of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for sarcoidosis will be reviewed.