title: Multi-organ sarcoidosis treatment with fumaric acid esters: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Sarcoidosis is a rare, systemic disease that is characterized by the formation of granulomas in various organs, including the skin. As the etiology remains unknown, the treatment of sarcoidosis is challenging. We present a 47-year-old female patient with progressive, multi-organ sarcoidosis who had a complete clinical improvement of the skin lesions, a moderate reduction in pulmonary opacities on chest X-ray, a marked subjective improvement in general status and pulmonary efficiency and a marked reduction in serum angiotensin-converting enzyme and soluble interleukin-2 receptor after 6 months of therapy with fumaric acid esters. The present case and similar reports in the literature highlight the probable efficacy of fumaric acid esters in the treatment of sarcoidosis and other non-infectious, granulomatous diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Dessau, Germany.
authors.forename: Christos C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zouboulis
authors.forename: Undine
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karagiannidis
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005650:Fumarates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005650:Fumarates; C032005:fumaric acid