A Guide to Treatment of Sarcoidosis

Title: A Guide to Treatment of Sarcoidosis

Volume: 5 Issue: 2

Author(s): Ilias C. Papanikolaou, Hidenobu Shigemitsu and Om P. Sharma

Affiliation:

Keywords: Sarcoidosis, treatment, corticosteroids, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, infliximab

Abstract: Not all sarcoidosis patients need treatment. In about 40% of cases, disease will subside spontaneously. For the rest who need to be treated, older drugs like corticosteroids, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, as well as the more recent anti-TNF agents, will be effective in suppressing granulomatous inflammation in every organ involved in about 30% of cases. In 20% of the patients, disease will relapse upon discontinuation or tapering of treatment, and in 10% will progress (these two categories constituting chronic disease). In these cases, reinstitution of the same or alternative medication or a combination regimen is warranted. Drugs side-effects and patients comorbidities should be taken in consideration during the selection of the appropriate regimen.

Cite this article as:

C. Papanikolaou Ilias, Shigemitsu Hidenobu and P. Sharma Om, A Guide to Treatment of Sarcoidosis, Current Drug Therapy 2010; 5 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488510791065102