The long-term results of treatment in patients with different clinical forms of
sarcoidosis were studied, by using both
prednisolone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (
NSAIDs). No therapeutic measures were implemented in some patients. The total number of patients was 1587; the time of a follow-up was 2 to 10 years after completion of treatment or, in the latter's absence, after detection of the disease. The frequency of
spontaneous regression in patients with Stage I
pulmonary sarcoidosis was 57%. That in patients with its Stage II and generalized
sarcoidosis was relatively low. Evaluation of the efficiency of different
prednisolone treatment regiments showed that there was the highest cure rate in Stage I
pulmonary sarcoidosis when the initial dose of the agent was 0.75-1 mg/kg every other day. This
prednisolone treatment regimen did not exhibit any great advantages when applied to patients with Stage II
pulmonary sarcoidosis and generalized
sarcoidosis. Comparison of the use of
prednisolone, 0.5 mg/kg, every day or every other day yielded about equal results during long-term follow-ups. A rather noticeable effect was achieved when
NSAIDs were administered. However, these drugs were used in relatively minor pathological changes; and some such patients were observed to have signs of initial
spontaneous regression just before the initiation of
therapy.