title: No effect of high-dose inhaled steroids in pulmonary sarcoidosis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether inhaled steroids in high doses might be of therapeutic value in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double blind and placebo controlled parallel study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The out-patient clinic of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one untreated patients (17 males, 4 females, median age 33 years, range 21-65) and eight patients treated with systemic prednisolone. All patients had biopsy proven pulmonary sarcoidosis radiological stage I-III.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment with either inhaled budesonide 1.2 mg day-1-2.0 mg day-1 (n = 9) or placebo (n = 12) for 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical (cough, chest pain, dyspnoea) and paraclinical variables (chest X-ray, gallium scintigraphy, pulmonary function tests, and biochemical markers of disease activity: blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, serum (S-) angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), S-1,25-OH-cholecalciferol, plasma (P-) calcium, P-immunoglobulins) were recorded before treatment, every three months during treatment, and 6 months after treatment had been discontinued.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the recorded variables in the budesonide and placebo groups. In general, a regression of disease activity was observed in both groups. Two patients in the treatment group, treated with 2.0 mg budesonide/day, and two in the placebo group had progression in disease and were put on systemic steroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inhaled budesonide in doses of 1.2-2.0 mg day-1 had no recognizable therapeutic effect on pulmonary sarcoidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Graudal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grode
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munch
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011282:Pregnenediones; D019819:Budesonide