Prognosis of sarcoidosis
The extent of organ involvement in most cases is defined at presentation with <25% of patients developing new organ involvement within 2 years of follow-up. Most patients (60%) undergo spontaneous remission with an additional 10% to 20% resolving with corticosteroid therapy. However, in 10% to 30%, the course is chronic. In general, the more severe the involvement and the more organ systems (>3) involved at the time of diagnosis, the worse the prognosis. African–American race, disease onset after age 40, symptoms lasting over 6 months, advanced radiographic stage pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension, and extrathoracic involvement (cardiac, neurologic, lupus pernio, panuveitis, hypercalcemia, and bone) are poor prognostic signs. Overall mortality is 5% with half dying of progressive pulmonary disease and half dying of cardiac or neurologic involvement.
