Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease which affects many organs, including the heart.
Cardiac sarcoidosis has a reported incidence of about 25 % and carries a poor prognosis.
It can occur in the form of conduction abnormalities, pericardial and valvular heart
disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The diagnosis
of cardiac sarcoidosis is difficult, requiring a high index of suspicion and the use
of electrocardiography, echocardiography, nuclear medicine imaging, myocardial biopsy
and magnetic resonance imaging. Corticosteroids have been the cornerstone of treatment
of cardiac sarcoidosis, but other immunosuppressives have also been used, along with
standard heart failure therapy, antiarrhythmic medications, pacemakers and implantable
defibrillators. Cardiac transplantation is an option for patients who do not respond
to medical treatment. We briefly review the current armamentarium for the diagnosis
and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Key words
cardiomyopathy - heart and lung transplantation - heart disease
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Dr. M. D. Charalampos S. Floudas
First Department of Internal Medicine
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital
17 Ag. Thoma
11527 Athens
Greece
Phone: + 30 69 74 91 28 80
Fax: + 30 21 07 78 88 30
Email: chfloudas@gmail.com
