title: Sarcoidosis and interferon therapy: report of five cases and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease of unknown etiology. Interferons (IFN) have been implicated in its pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to examine the causal relationship between sarcoidosis and IFN therapy. METHODS: Patients admitted for sarcoidosis (n=60) were reviewed for a history of IFN therapy. In addition, all cases of sarcoidosis in a cohort of hepatitis C-infected patients treated with IFN-alpha (n=1159) were analyzed. RESULTS: Five patients with prior IFN-alpha therapy and sarcoidosis were identified; an additional 23 have been reported in the literature. The median age of the 28 reported patients was 50 years, 16 (57%) were female, and 16 (57%) had isolated cutaneous disease. The median time to diagnosis was 4 months (range 1-16 months) following the introduction of IFN. A remission was observed in all patients with adequate follow-up (n=27): 15 (53%) upon dosage reduction or IFN discontinuation, seven (25%) with systemic corticosteroids, three (11%) with topical treatment, and three (11%) despite ongoing IFN therapy. Relapse was observed in both of the patients rechallenged with IFN. CONCLUSIONS: There is a potential causal relationship between IFN therapy and sarcoidosis. In patients with sarcoidosis in the setting of IFN therapy, the majority respond to IFN withdrawal or dosage reduction; however, some require corticosteroid therapy.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Cedex 13, Paris, France
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.forename: Robert P.
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moussalli
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herson
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poynard
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benveniste