title: National survey on status of steroid therapy for cardiac sarcoidosis in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This investigation was undertaken to clarify the current status of steroid therapy for cardiac sarcoidosis in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey was conducted throughout Japan concerning cases in which steroid therapy had been administered. Replies describing 52 cases (15 men, 37 women; mean age +/- SD, 59.8 +/- 14.5 years) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 49 patients whose New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification was reported, 29 (55.8%) were in class I; 13 (25.0%) class II; 4 (7.7%) class III and 3 (5.8%) class IV. The most common initial steroid dose (used in 35 cases, or 67.3%) was 30 mg/day or 60 mg on alternate days. In most cases (85.4%), this dose was continued for 1 month followed by tapering by 5 mg every 2 to 4 weeks until reaching the maintenance dose of 5 to 10 mg/day. Steroid therapy was reported to result in improvement in 54%, no change in 40%, and deterioration in 6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This nationwide questionnaire survey indicated fairly uniform patterns of steroid therapy for cardiac sarcoidosis in Japan, with clinical improvement in over one-half of cases and possible stabilization in most others.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiramitsu
authors.forename: Shin-ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Yasuchika
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Katsutomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohtsuki
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyagishima
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hishida
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugisaki
authors.forename: Tomiyasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone