Clinical management of pulmonary sarcoidosis

ABSTRACT

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease for which diagnosis relies on the integration of clinical, radiologic, laboratory, and pathologic information. Assessment of clinical features is an important part of the disease evaluation. Computer Tomography provides information not available on routine chest roentgenogram which can assist diagnosing and establishing extent of disease. Monitoring for pulmonary and extra-pulmonary disease facilitates disease management. Patients with quality of life affecting symptoms or threatened end organ damage require systemic treatment which can be recommended in a stepwise fashion. Here, we provide guidance for the initial assessment, disease monitoring, and treatment recommendations for pulmonary and extra pulmonary disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Sarcoidosis
• pulmonary
• CT scan
• PET scan
• Prednisone
• Methotrexate
• Infliximab

Declaration of interest

RP Baughman grant support from: Celgene, Janssen, Gilead, Forest, Mallinckrodt, Bayer, National Institutes of Health USA; consultant: Celgene, Mallinckrodt, Gilead. EE Lower reports grant support from Celgene, Janssen, Gilead, Forest, Mallinckrodt and Bayer. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.