RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of corticosteroids on the prognosis of sarcoidosis. METHOD: There were analysis and comparison on the prognosis of natural course and corticosteroids therapy of 133 patients with sarcoidosis diagnosed by biopsy pathologic histology follow-up over 4 years. RESULTS: Six of the 7 patients with ocular sarcoidosis were cured by oral prednisone (PRED), and 1 patient receiving intraocular dexamethasone lost his sight. In patients with extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis who were not treated, 33 of the 38 cases underwent spontaneous remission, but another 5 cases progressed. Twenty-two of the 26 patients with stage I pulmonary disease underwent spontaneous remission, 3 progressed, with only one case cured by PRED therapy. In the 55 patients with stage II pulmonary sarcoidosis who received PRED therapy, the chest roentgenogram and lung function were back to normal in 45 cases, but 10 cases failed. One patient with stage II pulmonary disease without treatment progressed to stage IV. Three patients with stage III pulmonary sarcoidosis were cured by PRED therapy, but III patients with stage IV sarcoidosis failed to respond to PRED therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic therapy with oral corticosteroids for ocular and stage II approximately III pulmonary sarcoidosis is a curative intervention. Corticosteroids can relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation, and improve the prognosis of ocular and pulmonary sarcoidosis.
