[Effect of glucocorticosteroid therapy on immunologic indicators in patients with sarcoidosis and idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis].

Immunological findings were recorded in 22 patients with active sarcoidosis and 12 patients with idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis. In addition, the patients' endopulmonary cytograms were considered. Immunological evidence involved the use of bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchoscopy, peripheral blood. Administration of corticosteroid therapy resulted in alveolitis attenuation both in sarcoidosis and fibrosing alveolitis. Common features of immune response of sarcoidosis and idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis patients to glucocorticosteroids whose action proceeds as multicomponent immunomodulating effect implying reconstruction of some links of the immune system while aggravating dysfunction of the others are stated.