Author/Editor     Terčelj, Marjeta; Rott, Tomaž; Rylander, Ragnar
Title     Antifungal treatment in sarcoidosis - a pilot intervention trial
Type     članek
Source     Respir Med
Vol. and No.     Letnik 101, št. 4
Publication year     2007
Volume     str. 774-8
Language     eng
Abstract     Background: Sarcoidosis is generally treated with corticosteroids that are not always an effective therapy. Objectives: To assess if treatment with antifungal drugs would improve the clinical status of patients with sarcoidosis. Methods: Patients (n=18) with sarcoidosis grades II and III according to established criteria and without clinical and immunological signs of fungal infection, were treated with antifungal medication together with corticosteroids for 3-6 months. Pulmonary X-ray infiltration, lung function, and severity of symptoms were registered before and after the treatment and at follow up 9-58 months later. Results: The treatment resulted in statistically significant decreases in the degree of pulmonary infiltration with an average decrease in the group from 2.0 to 1.0. There were also significant increases in diffusion capacity and decreases in the severity of symptoms. Conclusion: It is suggested that treatment with antifungal drugs may be useful, at least in certain cases of sarcoidosis.
Descriptors     SARCOIDOSIS
ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS
THORACIC RADIOGRAPHY
FORCED EXPIRATORY VOLUME
VITAL CAPACITY
PEPTIDYL-DIPEPTIDASE A
ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES
TREATMENT OUTCOME