Sarcoidosis with hydrocephalus: report of a case successfully treated with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and methylprednisolone pulse therapy

We describe a female patient with systemic sarcoidosis and hydrocephalus. She was initially satisfyingly treated with peroral steroids. When she later deteriorated, the treatment had to be changed due to side-effects. High dose intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy was tried with some, but insufficient, improvement. Therefore, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation was performed with immediate improvement. After that she was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and her condition has remained proper and stable for 5 years. The possibility that pulse therapy might have contributed to the favourable course in our patient is discussed.