Clinical and radiologic patterns of relapse in pulmonary sarcoidosis

Three hundred thirty-eight patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were studied retrospectively. Ninety-six experienced clinical and/or radiologic relapse, defined as disease exacerbation after improvement requiring institution or resumption of therapy. Profusion was evaluated on a scale from 0 to 8. The mode of onset and relapse was the same in 38% of patients, and relapse was more common in blacks with uveitis or musculoskeletal symptoms. Twenty-six percent of cases were stage 0, 49% stage I, 16% stage II, and 6% stage III. At relapse, 12% were stage 0, 24% stage I, 45% stage II, and 18% stage III. Relapse was common, occurring in 25% of patients and less frequently in untreated than in treated patients