[Long-term results of treatment and prediction in patients with sarcoidosis]

The long-term results of treatment in patients with different clinical forms of sarcoidosis were studied, by using both prednisolone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). No therapeutic measures were implemented in some patients. The total number of patients was 1587; the time of a follow-up was 2 to 10 years after completion of treatment or, in the latter's absence, after detection of the disease. The frequency of spontaneous regression in patients with Stage I pulmonary sarcoidosis was 57%. That in patients with its Stage II and generalized sarcoidosis was relatively low. Evaluation of the efficiency of different prednisolone treatment regiments showed that there was the highest cure rate in Stage I pulmonary sarcoidosis when the initial dose of the agent was 0.75-1 mg/kg every other day. This prednisolone treatment regimen did not exhibit any great advantages when applied to patients with Stage II pulmonary sarcoidosis and generalized sarcoidosis. Comparison of the use of prednisolone, 0.5 mg/kg, every day or every other day yielded about equal results during long-term follow-ups. A rather noticeable effect was achieved when NSAIDs were administered. However, these drugs were used in relatively minor pathological changes; and some such patients were observed to have signs of initial spontaneous regression just before the initiation of therapy.