MANAGEMENT

Disease and Symptom Management 

  • Up to 30% of patients are thought to have chronic sarcoidosis4
  • 10% to 20% of patients experience permanent sequelae4
  • Almost 2/3 of patients will experience spontaneous remission1

Treatment Recommendations

Treatment is required in the following patients regardless of stage:4

  • Worsening symptoms
  • Limitation of activity
  • Markedly abnormal or deteriorating lung function   
  • Worrisome X-ray changes (cavitation, fibrosis, conglomerate masses, signs of pulmonary hypertension) 
  • Heart, nervous system, or eye involvement   
  • Renal or hepatic insufficiency or failure  
  • Moderate to severe hypercalcemia  
  • Disfiguring skin or joint disease 

Follow-up tests should be performed in asymptomatic patients.4

Corticosteroids4,6 

  • Although many are not currently approved to treat sarcoidosis, corticosteroids are often used empirically  

Lung Transplantation

  • For patients with life-threatening fibrotic disease

Supportive Care

  • Smoking cessation
  • Oxygen therapy   
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation  
  • Palliative care   

See also

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Interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis with a focus on chest CT

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