THERAPEUTIC FASTING IN COMBINED TREATMENT OF PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS (PS)

We have studied the effect of therapeutic fasting in 76 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (28, 45 and 3 patients with stage I, II and III, respectively). Fifty-two patients with PS stage I, II and minimal cli nical symptoms received fasting alone. Twenty-four patients with PS st age II, III and frequent recurrences received combined treatment (fast ing and oral corticosteroids). The efficacy of the treatment was evalu ated by clinical symptoms, X-ray picture, pulmonary capillary blood fl ow and immunological parameters. We have found that therapeutic fastin g reduced clinical symptoms in 85% of the patients, improved x-ray pic ture in 62% of the patients. Positive trend was also registered in imm unological parameters. Therapeutic fasting produced maximal positive e ffect in patients with PS stage I, II and duration of the disease less than I year. Patients with PS stage II, III and the disease duration more than 1 year should be treated with fasting in combination with co rticosteroids.