PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS-MANAGEMENT

SUMMARY

1. Overall, 75% of sarcoid patients recover without treatment.

2. It rarely progresses to pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension.

3. Corticosteroids have not been proven to induce remissions in sarcoidosis, but decrease symptoms, and improve PFT.

4. Inhaled corticosteroids decrease the respiratory symptoms and may be used instead of systemic corticosteroids if the disease is primarily in the bronchi.

5. Other medications available include hydroxychloroquine (PlaqueniJ®), infliximab (Remicade®), methotrexate, and thalidomide.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].