Neurosarcoidosis: clinical manifestations, investigation and treatment

Pract Neurol. 2020 May;20(3):199-212. doi: 10.1136/practneurol-2019-002349. Epub 2020 May 17.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis affects the nervous system in 10% of cases. When it does so it can affect any part of the nervous system and with all degrees of severity. It forms part of the differential diagnosis in inflammatory, infective, neoplastic and degenerative neurological diseases and may be very difficult to diagnose without histological confirmation. Recent clinical studies and the increasing availability of new biological treatments allow a much clearer understanding of the disease. This review summarises its clinical features, imaging and laboratory characteristics, treatment and outcome.

Keywords: neuroimmunology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy*
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Methotrexate

Supplementary concepts

  • Neurosarcoidosis