[Alternate-day prednisolone therapy in lung sarcoidosis (author's transl)].

Thirty patients with a biopsy-proven sarcoidosis of the lung (state I = 5, state II = 24, state III = 1 patient(s) were subjected to a primary alternate-day prednisolone therapy. After a treatment of 6 months all signs of sarcoidosis of state I and about two thirds of state II disappeared completely. In one third of the cases of state II (mainly broad focal and extensively infiltrative types of sarcoidosis as well as relapses the inflammatory changes in patients could be suppressed, but moderate fibrous residues remained. One case of progressive sarcoidosis of state III proved to be nearly resistant to therapy. Substantial side effects were not observed. Since the alternate-day prednisolone therapy is highly effective and nearly without any risk it is recommended to all patients with sarcoidosi needing therapy.