[The treatment and prognosis of sarcoidosis. Apropos 53].
OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively studied 53 cases of sarcoidosis which have been diagnosed at our service during de last 14 years. The criteria for starting therapy with corticosteroids and recurrences were analyzed.


METHODS
The patients mean (SD) age was 42 (15) years old (range 16-76) and the majority were female (72%). 15 patients (28.3%) received corticosteroids. The only differences with respect to patients not treated were the presence of respiratory symptoms (47% vs 18%; p = 0.04) and the abnormality of spirometric parameters (DLCO/VA p = 0.01; CV p = 0.002).


RESULTS
17 (32%) patients recurred. 14 (82%) of them required corticosteroids. This percentage was significantly greater than that of patients treated at first episode (82% vs 28%, p = 0.0002). All patients improved with treatment. The only difference with respect to patients without recurrences were to be treated at the first episode (53% vs 17%, p = 0.007).
Castañé
J
J
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Mútua de Terrassa, Barcelona.
Rodríguez-Carballeira
M
M
Ochoa
A
A
Esteban
L
L
Muñoz-Rodríguez
F J
FJ
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones