Beck’s sarcoid is commonly referred to as the most common form of sarcoidosis, expressed in the lesion of the patient’s skin.
Reasons
For many years it was believed that this ailment has an infectious nature. To date, this hypothesis has not been definitively proven, since it was not possible to determine the causative agent exactly. Fungi, pine pollen, atypical microbacteria, work with some rare earth metals, including beryllium and zirconium, often become provocateurs of the development of this condition.
Recently, data on genetic predisposition to this type of sarcoidosis have become increasingly common. There are often reports of factors provoking this ailment in the form of reduced immunity, an unfavorable environmental situation, a parasitic theory of its occurrence. It is obvious that a complex of unfavorable factors that complement and stimulate each other leads to the development of Beck’s sarcoid.
Symptoms and forms
The symptomatology of the course of this disease is wide and is expressed by various lesions of the human skin. At the same time, it has a direct dependence on its shape.
Papular small nodular form. It is characterized by the formation of purple or red-yellowish in color multiple papules of spherical or oval shape.
Large-nodular form. It is characterized by the formation of large nodules, peeling, with a bluish-gray surface.
A form with grouped figured rashes, lichenoid and spotty-papular rashes.
Diffuse-infiltrative form. It is characterized by the formation of dense, infiltrative or flat plaques with ulceration and the formation of scars in their place.
Schaumann form (erythrodermic variety). It is characterized by the formation of a rash in the form of plaques on large skin areas. The rash has a purple-reddish color.
In addition to skin rashes, localized, as a rule, on the face, the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, on the upper back, in the auricles and on the extensor parts of the limbs, the following symptoms are observed with Beck’s sarcoid:
apathy, lethargy, fatigue;
decreased appetite and weight loss;
joint and muscle pain;
shortness of breath, various visual impairments;
dry cough;
fever and chronic fatigue syndrome.
In the late stage, in advanced cases of the disease, lesions of the brain, liver and urinary system are joined to skin lesions.
Diagnostics
A distinctive feature of this skin lesion is a positive reaction to the Kweim test and a negative reaction to tuberculosis reactions.
Diagnosis should be carried out by an experienced dermatologist, with mandatory Mantoux test, chest X-ray examination, scintigraphy, bronchoscopy, lung biopsy, with sarcoid lesion of this organ.
Treatment
Therapy is carried out with the help of:
corticosteroid drugs according to a special scheme (first large doses, then with a gradual decrease to maintenance corticosteroid therapy);
monotherapy;
administration of antimalarial drugs;
administration of cytostatics.
Anti-tuberculosis drugs and injections of vitamins that affect skin metabolism, in particular vitamin D2, played a good role in the therapy of Beck’s sarcoid.
Externally, various forms of physiotherapy are used. Support for long-term remission in Beck’s sarcoid is achieved with the help of sanatorium treatment in specialized institutions of the Crimea.
Often, with timely and precisely prescribed treatment, the symptoms of the disease can be removed not only from the skin, but also to improve the condition of internal organs.
