Current Medical Therapy for Sarcoidosis

Abstract

AbstractMost cases of sarcoidosis are mild and self-limited, with a spontaneous cure. However, in some patients, this disease may also be life-threatening, particularly when severe manifestations induce vital organ dysfunction. Sarcoidosis may also severely impair the quality of life through diverse, persistent disabling symptoms. To date, there is no curative treatment for sarcoidosis, but only anti-inflammatory drugs limiting the pathologic impact of sarcoidosis in reducing enhanced immunity reactions, granulomatous formation, and their consequences. Current anti-inflammatory treatments for sarcoidosis include corticosteroids as the first-line treatment; disease-modifying antisarcoid drugs, mainly immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs, as second-line treatment; and finally tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, as third-line treatment. Corticosteroids are most effective; they give rapid results, sometimes with serious, incremental adverse effects. A second-line treatment, mainly low-dose methotrexate and azathioprine, is indicated in case of corticosteroid resistance, intolerance, or contraindication or more often as a corticosteroid-sparing agent when a prolonged treatment of more than 10 mg/d equivalent prednisone is expected. TNF inhibitors are considered in severe refractory sarcoidosis. Infliximab has been proven effective. Usually, treatment for sarcoidosis lasts up to 1 year or longer. The usual drug regimen is made of an induction and then a maintenance protocol before a step-by-step decrease and eventual withdrawal. Contraindications may exist. Each therapeutic decision must follow a rigorous diagnostic evaluation to determine the disease impact, its outcome (progression or not), and its response to treatment in the long run. Pharmacogenetics is still in its infancy, but could help develop a more personalized therapy. Non anti-inflammatory treatments, such as implantable cardiac devices, are also useful, particularly for some organs. In the end, persistent disabling symptoms are very frequent and call for an accurate diagnosis, which may be difficult to treat.