Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine

Mount Sinai Sarcoidosis Support Group

Patient/Family Information

Treatment

n a majority of patients, the disease spontaneously disappears, and no treatment is necessary. Should treatment be necessary, your physician will recommend appropriate measures where the treatment is based on the area involved and the extent of the involvement. Traditionally, corticosteroids were the primary treatment, but today there are many options, with more in clinical trials. Drops and creams can be used for eye and skin involvement, while inhaled drugs may help with lung involvement. The sarcoidosis patient should follow his or her doctor's directions. This usually is just continuation of a normal lifestyle. When drugs are prescribed, they should be taken faithfully, just as the physician directs. Also, your doctor will discuss with you a schedule for follow-up exams to track the status of the disease and effect of treatments.

It is particularly important that sarcoidosis patients do not smoke.

In most instances, the prognosis is usually good. For most people, the disease and its symptoms will disappear within 2 years. For a small percentage of patients, the symptoms may appear chronic and/or worsen. Sarcoidosis is rarely fatal.

There is no means of predicting the outcome for each person.

Can it be cured?

At least 50% of patients with sarcoidosis are cured without any treatment. 25% will be cured with treatment. The remaining 25% will have chronic sarcoisosis.

What do I do?

You’ve taken the first step by seeing your doctor at the Mount Sinai Medical Center and receiving a confirmed diagnosis. You and your doctor will determine a course of action ranging from an evaluation to track the status of your illness to medications that assist in keeping the symptoms under control.

Be knowledgeable and understand your illness. Listen to your body as you now have a diagnosis for the symptoms you have been experiencing. But do not blame sarcoidosis for everything uncomfortable that affects your body. Ask questions, sarcoidosis is not responsible for all symptoms you have. Your doctor is your partner in helping you deal with the symptoms of the illness.