Viking Kryptonite

Viking Kryptonite

The Silent Assassin

Some of you may be aware of a condition known as “Viking Claw” which predominantly affects people of Norse descent. This article will be touching on another condition that has higher contraction rates amongst the Scandinavian people compared to the global statistics. It is a disease that has directly affected 3 of my family members, and all of them are descended from the Norman lineage I share. In Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, the prevalence is approximately 67 people per 100,000 as opposed to the worldwide average of 16.5 people per 100,000.

Sarcoidosis

A disease involving abnormal collections of inflammatory cells (Granulomas) that can form as nodules in multiple organs. The formations of these granulomas are most often started  in the lungs or its associated lymph nodes, but any organ can be affected. Sarcoidosis seems to be caused by an immune reaction to an infection or some other trigger that continues even after the initial infection or other antigen is cleared from the body.

In most cases, it clears up by itself without any medical intervention, but some cases go on to affect the person's long-term or become life-threatening and require medical intervention, most often with medications. Vitamin D3 is the main cause for elevated blood calcium measurements, and in sarcoidosis is overproduced by sarcoid granulomata.

There is speculation that the rapid expansion of the Norse people, though adaptable in nearly every other way, were not genetically prepared for the warmer climates and higher exposure rates to the sun (a massive supplier of Vitamin D).

Treatment is usually designed to help relieve the symptoms and thus does not directly alter the course of the disease. This treatment usually consists of anti-inflammatory drugs, but In cases where the condition develops to the point that it has a progressive and/or life-threatening course, the treatment is most often steroid treatment with Prednisone. Alternatively, drugs that are most commonly used to treat cancer and suppress the immune system.The average mortality rate is less than 5% in untreated cases but can cause many other complications throughout the body.

In the United States it most commonly affects people of Northern European (especially Scandinavian or Icelandic) or African/African American ancestry between the ages of 20 and 29, although any race or age group can be affected. Japan has a lower rate of sarcoidosis than the United States, although in these people the disease is usually more aggressive in its course with the heart often affected.  Japanese individuals also have a different peak age for sarcoidosis, 25–40 years of age. It occurs about twice as often in women, where it usually takes a more aggressive course. In developing countries, it often goes misdiagnosed as Tuberculosis(TB) as its symptoms often resemble those of TB.

Sarcoidosis was first described in 1877 by an English doctor named Dr. Jonathon Hutchinson as a skin disease causing red, raised lesions on the arms, face, and hands.

Signs and symptoms.

Systemic sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease that can affect any organ, although it can be asymptomatic (No noticeable or visible symptoms) and is discovered by accident in about 5% of cases. Common symptoms, which tend to be varied and extremely vague, include fatigue-like symptoms (unrelieved by sleep; occurs in 66% of cases), decreased energy, loss of weight(Or in my case, massive weight gain) , joint aches and pains (which occur in about 70% of cases),   Arthritis (14–38% of persons),dry eyes, swelling of the knees, blurry vision,asthmatic symptoms, a dry, hacking cough, or skin lesions (as shown above in the picture tag linked to Wikipedia)

Less commonly, people may cough up blood. The cutaneous symptoms vary, and range from a simple rash and noduli (small bumps) to Lupus Pernio. Sarcoidosis and cancer may mimic one another, making the diagnosis and differentiation difficult (Snowflake indeed)

“The combination of erythema nodosum, bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, and joint pain is called Löfgren syndrome which has a relatively good prognosis.[1] This form of the disease occurs significantly more commonly in Scandinavian patients than in those of non-Scandinavian origin. “  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcoidosis#cite_note-MSR-7

Respiratory tract

Localization to the lungs is by far the most commonly found and diagnosed form of this disease. At least 90% of affected persons experience lung involvement.

Overall, about 50% develop permanent pulmonary abnormalities, and 5 to 15% have progressive fibrosis of the lungs. Sarcoidosis of the lung is primarily in which the inflammatory process involves the alveoli, small bronchi and small blood vessels. In acute and subacute cases, physical examination usually reveals dry crackling sounds throughout the respiratory system.  At least 5% of persons will suffer heart related Sarcoid. (My Father is one of these unfortunate Vikings)

Even the toughest of the tough have weak points or vulnerabilities that may not be noticeable at first, it looks like even one of the most feared people in History are susceptible to this mystery illness.

I wrote this piece as I felt I needed to bring awareness to my fellow Scandinavian descendants. This disease has affected more than one member of my family, and I personally felt it was worth a mention.

No matter how tough a Viking you may be, this is definitely one disease where early intervention can make a massive difference.

Till next time, go and get yourself checked by your doctor, or read up on the disease to gain more of an understanding.  I have basic links back to Wikipedia for you to further investigate Sarcoid.

Written By Justin Ferry