Sarcoidosis causes clusters of inflammatory cells called granulomas to form in organs, most often the lungs and lymph nodes. It affects about 175,000 people in the United States, with Black Americans diagnosed three times more often than white Americans. Many people require no treatment, but those with organ damage may need corticosteroids or immunosuppressants.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing JAK inhibitors and other steroid-sparing medications to control inflammation with fewer side effects. Researchers are studying antifibrotic drugs for lung scarring, biologic therapies targeting specific immune pathways, and treatments for cardiac sarcoidosis. Studies are also working to identify biomarkers that predict who will develop severe disease and who might recover without treatment.
JAK inhibitors
Pills like tofacitinib and ruxolitinib are being tested to see if they can control sarcoidosis inflammation while avoiding the weight gain, bone loss, and diabetes risks of long-term steroids. Early trials show promise in lung and skin involvement.
Cardiac sarcoidosis
Heart involvement affects about 5% of sarcoidosis patients but causes most deaths. Trials are testing whether immunosuppressants prevent arrhythmias and heart failure better than steroids alone.
Fibrosis prevention
Some people develop permanent lung scarring even after inflammation subsides. Researchers are testing drugs like pirfenidone, already approved for other lung diseases, to prevent this irreversible damage.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on which organs are affected, disease severity, prior treatments, and whether inflammation is active on imaging or biopsy.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new medications, often JAK inhibitors or biologic drugs, against steroids or current immunosuppressants to see if they work as well with fewer side effects.
- Cardiac trials — Studies of treatments specifically for heart involvement, including medications to prevent arrhythmias and implantable devices.
- Pulmonary trials — Testing drugs to reduce lung inflammation and prevent scarring in people with lung involvement.
- Biomarker studies — Following people with sarcoidosis to identify blood tests or imaging findings that predict who needs treatment and who will improve on their own.
- Quality of life trials — Testing treatments for fatigue, pain, and other symptoms that affect daily life even when organ function is stable.
Recently added Sarcoidosis trials
Donate blood samples to identify heart disease markers
The purpose of this study is to develop a prospective cohort of patients with and without cardiac sarcoidosis as well as active and inactive disease to develop a prospective biobank from which exosome analysis of peripheral blood will derive unique biomarkers of disease activity in cardiac sarcoidosis.
Take steroids while gradually reducing your dose under medical supervision
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition affecting many different parts of the body but most commonly the lungs. It is not known what causes sarcoidosis. In some patients no treatment is needed but in other patients long term treatment may be required. One of the main medications used to manage this condition is corticosteroids. This medication has been shown to be very effective at reducing inflammation in this condition and many patients often remain on it for months to years. Unfortunately, there are many negative long-term side effects of corticosteroid use. This includes an increased risk of developing diabetes, reduced bone density, weight gain, high blood pressure and low muscle mass. Currently there are no guidelines for how steroids should be weaned in patients who have stable sarcoidosis. The investigators aim to undertake a study at the Royal Brompton Hospital which will be assessing two different steroid tapering regimens which will be allocated to participants in a randomised manner. This will be the first study to directly evaluate different steroid weaning regimens in sarcoidosis patients. The main aim of this study is to determine how many participants can reduce their prednisolone dose to less than 50% from their baseline dose. Additionally, the investigators will be recording how many participants require an increase in dose or an additional medication whilst on the prednisolone weaning regimen. The investigators will also see the tolerability of steroid withdrawal and assess for any symptoms of steroid withdrawal. In a small subset of participants the investigators will assess for any changes in body composition and muscle strength using bioelectrical impedance analysis and isometric muscle testing.
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