Clinical phenotypes and therapeutic responses in cutaneous-predominant sarcoidosis: 6-year experience in a tertiary referral service

Abstract

Background: There is a limited evidence base for the treatment of cutaneous sarcoidosis.

Objective: To describe treatment modalities and responses in patients with predominantly cutaneous sarcoidosis, in addition to clinical characteristics and prevalence of systemic disease.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected over a 6-year period. The Cutaneous Sarcoidosis Activity and Morphology Index was used to assess treatment effectiveness.

Results: In total, 47 patients with biopsy-confirmed cutaneous sarcoidosis were identified. Morphologically, the most common lesions were papules (49%) and plaques (42.6%). The most commonly affected sites were the head and neck (79%); 89.4% had systemic as well as cutaneous disease; 77% received systemic corticosteroid therapy, while 87% required further steroid-sparing treatment; 40% achieved clinical remission with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and 88% achieved clinical remission with methotrexate (MTX). OR of achieving remission on MTX compared with HCQ was 9.8 (95% CI 2.4-40.4, P = 0.001). MTX was superior to both azathioprine (AZA) (OR = 22; 95% CI 1.7-285.9; P = 0.02) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (OR = 22; 95% CI 1.7-285.9; P = 0.02) in achieving remission.

Conclusion: HCQ is effective and well-tolerated. MTX was associated with significantly increased probability of achieving clinical remission compared with AZA and MMF.