CORTISONE TREATMENT OF SARCOIDOSIS

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is by no means a benign disease. Chronic disability is common, and blindness as a result of ocular involvement or death from progressive respiratory insufficiency may occur. There is need for a therapeutic agent, but trial of numerous drugs, antibiotics, and other agents was fruitless until the effectiveness of cortisone was shown.¹ Other observers² have also reported prompt and marked improvement during treatment with cortisone and adrenocorticotropic hormone. Objective evidence of the activity of these agents has been afforded by striking changes in histological appearance noted in serial biopsy studies³ as well as by respiratory function studies.⁴ However, relapse and even exacerbation have been noted when treatment was discontinued, and some observers have reported frequent activation of tuberculosis.⁵ Our experience with cortisone in therapy of sarcoidosis is with 36 patients, who have been observed for as long as 46 months after treatment. The results