The clinical analysis of recurrent sarcoidosis in 12 patients

Objective To study the main clinical characters of recurrent sarcoidosis.Methods Sarcoidosis recurrence were defined as presenting activity through imaging or histology after having self-relief or treated relief.There were 12 patients who consistent to the standard in all sarcoidosis patients from 2004 to 2008 in our hospital.Results All patients but one were male.The time of recurrent to the remission was from 4 to 38 months.10 patients received oral steroid therapy.Recurrences often occurred in drug reducing or 6 months after drug withdrawal.There were 2 patients with recurrence time greater than 3 years after remission.Three patients presented new organ damages in recurrence.Conclusions The recurrence of sarcoidosis mostly occurred in the course of drug reduction or in the early stage of drug withdrawal and the recurrence time were hardly over 3 years after remission.The sarcoidosis patients must receive long time follow-up and the program of oral steroid therapy must be standardized. Key words: Sarcoidosis; Steroid; Recurrence