Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 65 years * Computed tomography of the chest consistent with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis of the lung/mediastinal lymph nodes * Diagnosis of sarcoidosis made on cytological or histological samples * Having significant symptoms requiring immunosuppressive treatment and/or having reduced lung function (defined as forced vital capacity or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) less than 80% predicted) or an extrapulmonary manifestation of the disease requiring treatment with low-medium dose glucocorticoids * Onset of symptoms within two years of study entry Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or lactating women * Subjects having any manifestation requiring high dose steroid treatment (this includes symptomatic neurosarcoidosis, life threatening cardiac sarcoidosis, vision threatening posterior uveitis or other forms of vision threatening ocular sarcoidosis) * Having absolute contraindication for prednisone (this includes untreated glaucoma, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, untreated infections, untreated severe psychiatric disorders) * Unwilling to participate in the study * Having received glucocorticoids (prednisolone equivalent \>15 mg/day) for more than three weeks in the preceding year