[Sarcoidosis as seen by a patient: results of questionnaire survey]

Two hundred patients with sarcoidosis were interviewed by a questionnaire in the global Internet. For comparison, the same questionnaire was used in the interviews of 60 patients in Kazan. Among international responders, patients from the USA were prevalent. The age of 30-39 years was predominant in both groups, females were three fourths. Predominance of these or those social groups was not established. At the same time, analysis of professions revealed a large number of medical workers in both Kazan (11.7%) and abroad (17%). In global practice the diagnosis of sarcoidosis is much more frequently histologically verified though in Russia the likely diagnosis of sarcoidosis is much earlier established during the patient's visit to a doctor. The basic drugs for its therapy are glucocorticoids. Inhaled steroids are used relatively rarely. Only Russia is marked by the use of antituberculous agents. The authors note that the Internet may be a field for research activities in medical science.