BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic agents have been used as both an alternative to oral @entity288 , and as a means of maintaining a low dose of @entity230 in the treatment of @entity10070 . OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of immunosuppressive and cytotoxic agents in the treatment of @entity10070 . SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Airways Group trials register was searched for possible randomised trials. Bibliographies were searched for other potentially relevant trials. Searches were current as of February 2001. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing an immunosuppressive or cytotoxic therapy with a control in @entity1 with @entity10070 were included in the review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently extracted data for entry in to the Review Manager statistical package (MetaView 4.1). Pharmaceutical companies and study investigators were contacted for unpublished trials. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies were included in the review. Trials comparing @entity1499 , @entity503 and @entity205 were identified. No data could be combined for a meta-analysis. Data on lung function, chest x-ray scores and dyspnoea were largely inconclusive. Adverse effects were associated with @entity1499 , @entity205 and @entity503 . In one small study, @entity1499 was associated with a @entity134 sparing effect after 12 months of therapy, but no difference was observed at 6 months. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: The current body of evidence supporting the use of immunosuppressive agents and cytotoxic therapies is limited. Side-effects associated with some of the therapies were severe.

Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic therapy for XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity205 :: ('MESH:D016572', 'Chemical') :: ['cyclosporin A'] @entity134 :: ('CHEBI:35341', 'Chemical') :: ['steroid'] @entity230 :: ('MESH:D013256', 'Chemical') :: ['steroids'] @entity1499 :: ('MESH:D008727', 'Chemical') :: ['methotrexate'] @entity503 :: ('MESH:D002738', 'Chemical') :: ['chloroquine'] @entity10070 :: ('MESH:D017565', 'Disease') :: ['pulmonary sarcoidosis'] @entity288 :: ('MESH:D000305', 'Chemical') :: ['corticosteroids']
@entity10070 :: (MESH:D017565,Disease) :: ['pulmonary sarcoidosis']
