Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Cardiac sarcoidosis

        Sarcoidosis is a benign granulomatous disease, multisystemic, of unknown etiology. The prevalence of cardiac localizations reported from autopsied patients is variable (12 to 75%) and a small proportion of these patients had clinical signs related to that location. The heart is one of the most serious locations and is responsible for approximately 50% of deaths among sarcoidosis. It is described more frequently in Japanese and occurs most often in the course of diagnosed sarcoidosis on other sites. The predominant sites of achieving myocardial sarcoidosis are free of the left ventricle, the basal part of interventricular septum, papillary muscle.

Cardiac sarcoidosis clinical manifestations

        The clinical manifestations are rare. The condition can be expressed by palpitations, faintness and loss of knowledge, chest pain. Congestive heart failure initially occurs in less than 5% of patients but a third of the patients die. The risk of sudden death is important

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Cardiac sarcoidosis pictures

The electrocardiographic examination in Cardiac sarcoidosis

        The discovery of electrocardiographic abnormalities of rhythm, conduction and repolarization is highly variable depending on the case but the ECG should be performed at the initial assessment and monitoring of all sarcoidosis. The conduction disorders are more frequent. It may be blocks of any type. The arrhythmias are mainly ventricular (ventricular extrasystoles, often refractory ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation). They are more rarely eartags. Disorders of repolarization may be responsible for deceptive ischemia and aspects of pseudonecrosis can be observed.