LOCAL INJECTION OF HYDROCORTISONE AND CORTISONE INTO SKIN LESIONS OF SARCOIDOSIS

Abstract

It has been reported¹ recently that the systemic administration of cortisone has a beneficial effect on sarcoidosis. The frequency with which spontaneous remissions occur in this disease makes it difficult to evaluate the effects of any therapeutic agent. Because it has been demonstrated that hydrocortisone and cortisone are effective when injected locally in rheumatoid arthritis² and other conditions,³ it was felt that the cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis would provide an excellent means of studying the effects of these steroids on this disease. These lesions are readily available for direct observation and biopsy, and small doses of the steroid that is being evaluated can be injected directly into the lesions without producing systemic effects. Adjacent lesions can be left untreated to serve as controls. Experiments designed to demonstrate changes in isolated skin lesions following local injection of the test substances should provide a means of establishing with more