Cardiac Sarcoid: A Clinician's Review on How to Approach the Patient With Cardiac Sarcoid

• Authors: Nicholas Mantini, Emory University; Byron Williams Jr., Emory University; James Stewart, Emory University; Leon Rubinsztain, Emory University; Andro Kacharava, Emory University
• Journal Title: Clinical Cardiology
• Volume: Volume 35, Number 7
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access: Various Creative Commons Licenses | 2012-07-01, Pages 410-415
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/clc.21982
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; SIGNAL-AVERAGED ELECTROCARDIOGRAM; POSITRON-EMISSION-TOMOGRAPHY; MAGNETIC-RESONANCE; PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS; SYSTEMIC SARCOIDOSIS; CORTICOSTEROID-THERAPY; JAPANESE PATIENTS; DIAGNOSIS; INVOLVEMENT; UTILITY

Abstract

Cardiac sarcoid is an infiltrative, granulomatous disease of the myocardium. It is more prevalent entity than once believed, especially subclinical disease. It affects heart mechanics causing ventricular failure, and disrupts the cardiac electrical system leading to third degree heart block, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. This makes early diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease essential. Based on reviewed literature this paper proposes step-wise diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidoisis who do or do not have prior history of systemic sarcoidosis.