ERS clinical practice guidelines on treatment of sarcoidosis
Recommended Citation
Baughman RP, Valeyre D, Korsten P, Mathioudakis AG, Wuyts WA, Wells A, Rottoli P, Nunes H, Lower EE, Judson MA, Israel-Biet D, Grutters JC, Drent M, Culver DA, Bonella F, Antoniou K, Martone F, Quadder B, Spitzer G, Nagavci B, Tonia T, Rigau D, and Ouellette DR. ERS clinical practice guidelines on treatment of sarcoidosis. Eur Respir J 2021; 58(6).
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2021
Publication Title
The European respiratory journal
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The major reasons to treat sarcoidosis are to lower the morbidity and mortality risk or to improve quality of life (QoL). The indication for treatment varies depending on which manifestation is the cause of symptoms: lungs, heart, brain, skin or other manifestations. While glucocorticoids remain the first choice for initial treatment of symptomatic disease, prolonged use is associated with significant toxicity. Glucocorticoid-sparing alternatives are available. The presented treatment guidelines aim to provide guidance to physicians treating the very heterogenous sarcoidosis manifestations.
METHODS: A European Respiratory Society Task Force committee composed of clinicians, methodologists and patients with experience in sarcoidosis developed recommendations based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) methodology. The committee developed eight PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) questions and these were used to make specific evidence-based recommendations.
RESULTS: The Task Force committee delivered 12 recommendations for seven PICOs. These included treatment of pulmonary, cutaneous, cardiac and neurologic disease as well as fatigue. One PICO question regarding small-fibre neuropathy had insufficient evidence to support a recommendation. In addition to the recommendations, the committee provided information on how they use alternative treatments, when there was insufficient evidence to support a recommendation.
CONCLUSIONS: There are many treatments available to treat sarcoidosis. Given the diverse nature of the disease, treatment decisions require an assessment of organ involvement, risk for significant morbidity, and impact on QoL of the disease and treatment.
Medical Subject Headings
Fatigue; Humans; Quality of Life; Sarcoidosis
PubMed ID
34140301
Volume
58
Issue
6
