[Corticosteroid treatment to patients with sarcoidosis]

Abstract

Regarding the corticosteroid treatment to patients with sarcoidosis, two schools of thoughts can be recognized: the one in favor of early treatment in contrast to the one preferring late treatment. However, no final consensus has been obtained so far. We analysed ten years follow-up data of patients with sarcoidosis who were detected by health examination though they were asymptomatic. The results showed that the rate of improvement of chest abnormality was higher in the non-treated cases than in the treated ones. The possibility exists that this can be applied to the cases with symptoms at detection. In conclusion, from the present state of knowledge, the use of corticosteroids is justified only for symptomatic relief and control of disabling systemic involvement.