Sarcoidosis Treatment

Sarcoidosis treatment

        Sarcoidosis treatment depends on the overall picture, and if it affects the lungs. It is necessary to distinguish the symptoms and symptomatic forms. In the first case when the discovery of sarcoidosis was accidental and it is accompanied by characteristic abnormalities on radiological examination of the lungs there is no need for treatment. Nevertheless, a clinical and biological monitoring is required for six months.

        In the second case, the steroids (use of steroids, cortisone treatment) is necessary when there is a violation of the parenchyma lung (tissue that allows the lungs to function). It is also the case when there are other viscera and in case of neurological disorders, visual disturbances or a disease. In this case Prednisolone is used for the initial dose of 2 mg per kilogram per day for four to six weeks then the dose is decreasing slowly for one to two years. The anti-inflammatory drugs that are not containing corticosteroids are also used. For the time cyclosporine was tested as a treatment for symptomatic sarcoidosis.

        The treatment of choice is corticosteroid which is very efficient and has fast action. Dose of attack is usually 1 / 2 mg per kg per day of prednisone equivalent. Sometimes the dose is doubled in the central neurological, renal, cardiac or ophthalmic manifestations. There is no supplementation of calcium and vitamin D. Where there is more evidence of the scalability of sarcoidosis, corticosteroid therapy is gradually reduced. Prolonged corticosteroid therapy can lasts for 18 months or more.

        The synthetic antimalarial represents the second therapy recognized as effective in the case of hypercalcemia or skin. The main side effect when it's used for prolonged periods is retinopathy. Hydroxychloroquine has less ocular toxicity than chloroquine. The dose is 200 to 400 mgrs per day. The anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed during the acute form or in Lofgren syndrome. In severe forms where exits a resistance to corticosteroid it may be necessary to use some immunosuppressants such as methotrexate, azathioprine.

Sarcoidosis treatment - Therapeutic indications

        Medical treatment is not always indicated. It is necessary when serious extra-pulmonary, scalability with symptoms, aggravation of the infringement progressive breathing exist.

Sarcoidosis treatment pictures

Sarcoidosis treatment - Conclusion

        Sarcoidosis is a disease whose presentation varies widely. Circumstance of its discovery is radiological. Certainty of it's diagnosis requires histological evidence that sometimes is difficult to obtain. However, the disease can cause pulmonary complications and can include extrapulmonary localizations that sometimes are fatal.