Course and duration of Löfgren’s syndrome

The course of the disease is extremely favorable in Löfgren’s syndrome. In approximately 95% of patients, the disease subsides completely after several months and then heals spontaneously, even without treatment. The severe initial symptoms, erythema nodosum, arthritis and swelling of the lymph nodes, usually subside and slowly subside within four to six weeks of the onset of the disease.

Occasionally it takes a year or more before the affected person is completely healthy again. However, the course of chronic sarcoidosis can vary greatly from individual to individual and may last for years and return after healing. However, Löfgren’s syndrome very rarely progresses into chronic sarcoidosis.

Prognosis of Löfgren’s Syndrome – How often does it relapse?

There are no figures on the frequency of relapses in Löfgren’s syndrome. However, the prognosis for Löfgren’s Syndrome is considered very good, as more than 90% of patients heal spontaneously within several months.

Treatment of Löfgren’s Syndrome

Löfgren’s syndrome does not always require treatment. The syndrome heals spontaneously within months in 95% of cases, even without therapy. If very unpleasant symptoms occur, treatment initially consists of anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetylsalicylic acid.

These drugs lower fever, counteract the inflammation and relieve the pain. More severe symptoms can be treated with cortisone for a short time.Cortisone has a very strong anti-inflammatory effect and is also the drug of choice in chronic sarcoidosis.

Effect of cortisone
Side effects of cortisone

Risk of infection with Löfgren’s syndrome

Löfgren’s syndrome is not contagious. The question of whether pathogens are involved in the development of acute sarcoidosis is the subject of current research. However, no pathogen has yet been identified and it is considered certain that Löfgren’s syndrome is not contagious.

Diagnosis of Löfgren’s syndrome

The first point of contact for people with Löfgren’s syndrome is typically the family doctor. The family doctor will discuss the symptoms in detail with the person concerned and will perform a physical examination and blood test. Other diagnostic procedures include chest x-rays, lung function tests, lung endoscopy and biopsy.

Based on the fact that Löfgren’s syndrome is a subset of sarcoidosis, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis also plays an important role. If Löfgren’s syndrome is suspected, the family doctor treating the patient will usually take a blood sample. This often reveals an accelerated blood sedimentation as well as a pathological increase in white blood cells (leukocytosis) with an increase in eosinophilic granulocytes.

In serum electrophoresis, a special examination of the proteins of the blood serum, an increase in alpha and beta globulins is often found. In addition, the blood is examined for tuberculosis pathogens in order to exclude tuberculosis as an important differential diagnosis. Furthermore, the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), which is typically elevated in the chronic form of sarcoidosis, is measured. Tuberculosis is a systemic infectious disease that can also be fatal. In order to be able to determine the exclusion of tuberculosis also on the basis of the symptoms, you should also deal with the symptoms of tuberculosis: Signs of tuberculosis