in remission. his death on august 9, 2008 was caused by complications from pneumonia, though mac's agent states the sarcoidosis was not related to his fatal pneumonia. karen "duff" duffy, mtv personality and actress, was diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis in 1995. american football player reggie white died in 2004, with pulmonary and cardiac sarcoidosis being contributing factors to his fatal heart arrhythmia. singer sean levert died in 2008 of sarcoidosis complications. joseph rago, pulitzer prize-winning writer known for his work at the wall street journal, died of sarcoidosis complications in 2017. several historical figures are suspected of having sarcoidosis. in a 2014 letter to the british medical journal the lancet, it was suggested that the french revolution leader maximilien robespierre may have had sarcoidosis, causing him impairment during his time as head of the reign of terror. the symptoms associated with ludwig van beethoven's 1827 death have been described as possibly consistent with sarcoidosis. author robert louis stevenson (1850–1894) had a history of chronic coughs and chest complaints, and sarcoidosis has been suggested as a diagnosis. pregnancy sarcoidosis generally does not prevent successful pregnancy and delivery; the increase in estrogen levels during pregnancy may even have a slightly beneficial immunomodulatory effect. in most cases, the course of the disease is unaffected by pregnancy, with improvement in a few cases and worsening of symptoms in very few cases, although it is worth noting that a number of the immunosuppressants (such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide) used in corticosteroid-refractory sarcoidosis are known teratogens. increased risks associated with sarcoidosis ranging from 30 to 70% have been reported for preeclampsia/eclampsia, cesarian or preterm delivery as well as (non-cardiac) birth defects in first singleton pregnancies. in absolute numbers, birth defects and other complications such as maternal death, cardiac arrest, placental abruption or venous thromboembolism are extremely rare in sarcoidosis pregnancies.