Sarcoidosis

[Guest]

Being aw of all serious side-effects of steroids, do feel y improve shortness of breath enough to take risk?

[Guest]

Yes they are worth taking the risk when indicated in sarcoidosis. The general indications for systemic steroid therapy in sarcoidosis include: Stage III or IV pulmonary sarcoid and symptomatic stage II, although people with asymptomatic stage II may be treated or closely followed for any impairment. Any other signicant organ impairment, such as cardiac. Most eye problems may be treated with topical. It would be nice to know exactly the best treatment duration and be able to exactly tell when one can come off steroids, unfortuanately that is not known and one has to empircally titrate dosing and follow clincal response. It is felt that treatment with steroids significantly reduces the risk of disease progression and impairment. Furthermore, it is felt that the abundant side effects of the steroids are far outweighed by the potential risks of disease progression. There are some types of sarcoid that do not require steroid therapy, but these need to be determined on an indiviudal bases such as stage I disease.