Treatment of sarcoidosis: drugs and sometimes surgery

More than 75% of cases of sarcoidosis do not need specific treatment because of minimal clinical symptoms. If the condition worsens, the main goal of treatment is to eliminate the inflammation and thus affect the symptoms of the disease itself.

Untreated symptomatic sarcoidosis can have more serious consequences for the patient's body and quality of life. In contrast, treated and monitored sarcoidosis has a relatively good prognosis.

In most cases, symptoms of treated/monitored sarcoidosis resolve within a few years.

Pharmacological treatment may consist of the use of immunosuppressants. Immunosuppressants are drugs that suppress the adverse reactions of the body's own immune system.

For medical complications, the main drugs used are systemic anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, which dampen the immune system's response. However, they also have a number of side effects and are therefore not indicated in the long term.

Therapy with inhaled corticosteroids is a possible alternative for localised lung involvement, reduced capacity and dry cough.

In rare cases, surgical treatment is indicated in case of severe organ damage (lungs, heart, liver...).

Treatment also consists of regular monitoring of the patient's blood calcium level.

After cure, patients are followed up in pulmonary clinics for a long time. Regular check-ups usually include a pneumological examination with a chest X-ray and an examination of the vital capacity of the lungs.

Regular eye checks are also carried out for the risk of disease and inflammation in the eye area.