Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of sarcoidosis according to the ATS/ERS/WASOG criteria, in case of absent histology a diagnosis of sarcoidosis can also be established in a multidisciplinary team meeting in a sarcoidosis expert center based on a highly suggestive clinical and radiological picture. * Age ≥18 years. * A pulmonary indication for treatment and parenchymal involvement on X-ray or CT-scan conducted within three months before inclusion (determined by the treating physician and conform current guidelines). * A forced vital capacity (FVC) of ≤90% of predicted, or a diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≤70% of predicted, or ≥5% FVC absolute decline/≥10% DLCO absolute decline in the past year. For pulmonary functions tests GLI reference values are used. Exclusion Criteria: * Any condition or circumstance that, in the opinion of the investigator, may make a subject unlikely or unable to complete the study or comply with study procedures. * Previous immunosuppressive treatment for sarcoidosis * Use of systemic immunosuppressive therapy within the preceding three months for another disease than sarcoidosis * Pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed during the study treatment or within 90 days after the last dose in the randomized study phase. For males; planning to pro-create during the study or within 90 days after the last dose of the randomized study phase. * Primary systemic treatment indication being an extra pulmonary location of sarcoidosis (e.g. cardiac of neurological) * Contra-indication for methotrexate or corticosteroids: * severely impaired renal function (creatinine clearance \<30 ml/min) * impaired hepatic function (serum bilirubin-value \>5 mg/dl or 85,5 micromole/l) * bone marrow insufficiency with severe leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or anaemia * severe acute or chronic infections, such as tuberculosis, HIV, parasitic infections or other immunodeficiency syndromes * mouth, stomach or duodenal ulcers