To evaluate whether inhaled steroids in high doses might be of therapeutic value in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Randomized, double blind and placebo controlled parallel study.

The out-patient clinic of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Twenty-one untreated patients (17 males, 4 females, median age 33 years, range 21-65) and eight patients treated with systemic prednisolone. All patients had biopsy proven pulmonary sarcoidosis radiological stage I-III.

Treatment with either inhaled budesonide 1.2 mg day-1-2.0 mg day-1 (n = 9) or placebo (n = 12) for 12 months.

Clinical (cough, chest pain, dyspnoea) and paraclinical variables (chest X-ray, gallium scintigraphy, pulmonary function tests, and biochemical markers of disease activity: blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, serum (S-) angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), S-1,25-OH-cholecalciferol, plasma (P-) calcium, P-immunoglobulins) were recorded before treatment, every three months during treatment, and 6 months after treatment had been discontinued.

There were no significant differences between the recorded variables in the budesonide and placebo groups. In general, a regression of disease activity was observed in both groups. Two patients in the treatment group, treated with 2.0 mg budesonide/day, and two in the placebo group had progression in disease and were put on systemic steroids.

Inhaled budesonide in doses of 1.2-2.0 mg day-1 had no recognizable therapeutic effect on pulmonary sarcoidosis.