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Stjepanovic M, Markovic F, Milivojevic I, Popevic S, Dimic-Janjic S, Popadic V, Zdravkovic D, Popovic M, Klasnja A, Radojevic A, Radovanovic D, Zdravkovic M. Contemporary Diagnostics of Cardiac Sarcoidosis: The Importance of Multimodality Imaging. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1865. [PMID: 39272650 PMCID: PMC11394254 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14171865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that can affect multiple organ systems and is characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas in various organs, including the heart. Due to suboptimal diagnostic rates, the true prevalence and incidence of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) remain to be determined. In patients with suspected CS, an initial examination should include 12-lead ECG or ambulatory ECG monitoring, and echocardiography with the estimation of LV, RV function, and strain rate. In patients with confirmed extracardiac sarcoidosis and with high clinical suspicion for CS, sophisticated imaging modalities, including cardiac MRI and PET, are indicated. Typical inflammation patterns and myocardial scarring should pose a high suspicion for CS. In patients without diagnosed extracardiac sarcoidosis and high clinical suspicion, although with low diagnostic probability, an endomyocardial biopsy should be considered to establish the diagnosis of definite isolated cardiac sarcoidosis. Timely diagnosis enables the initiation of therapy and close monitoring of adverse cardiac events that can be life-threatening, including sudden cardiac death, ventricular tachycardia, high-degree AV block, and heart failure. Implementing biomarkers in correlation to cardiac imaging can determine the disease's severity and progression but can also be helpful in following the treatment response. The formation of larger global registries can be helpful in the identification of independent predictors of adverse clinical events and the development of specific diagnostic algorithms to reduce the overall risk of this serious condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihailo Stjepanovic
- Clinic of Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Filip Markovic
- Clinic of Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivan Milivojevic
- Clinic of Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Spasoje Popevic
- Clinic of Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Dimic-Janjic
- Clinic of Pulmonology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Viseslav Popadic
- Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Maja Popovic
- Department of Radiology, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andrea Klasnja
- Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Radojevic
- Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dusan Radovanovic
- Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Zdravkovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Ebbinghaus H, Ueberham L, Husser-Bollmann D, Bollmann A, Paetsch I, Jahnke C, Laufs U, Dinov B. Case Report: Four cases of cardiac sarcoidosis in patients with inherited cardiomyopathy-a phenotypic overlap, co-existence of two rare cardiomyopathies or a second-hit disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1328802. [PMID: 38173816 PMCID: PMC10763246 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1328802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), a rare condition characterized by non-caseating granulomas, can manifest with symptoms such as atrioventricular block and ventricular tachycardia (VT), as well as mimic inherited cardiomyopathies. A 48-year-old male presented with recurrent VT. The initial 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) scan showed uptake of the mediastinal lymph node. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) demonstrated intramyocardial fibrosis. The follow-up 18FDG-PET scan revealed the presence of tracer uptake in the left ventricular (LV) septum, suggesting the likelihood of CS. Genetic testing identified a pathogenic LMNA variant. A 47-year-old female presented with complaints of palpitations and syncope. An Ajmaline provocation test confirmed Brugada syndrome (BrS). CMR revealed signs of cardiac inflammation. An endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. Polymorphic VT was induced during an electrophysiological study, and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was implanted. A 58-year-old woman presented with sustained VT with a prior diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A genetic work-up identified the presence of a heterozygous MYBC3 variant of unknown significance (VUS). CMR revealed late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), while the 18FDG-PET scan demonstrated LV tracer uptake. The immunosuppressive therapy was adjusted, and no further VTs were observed. A 28-year-old male athlete with right ventricular dilatation and syncope experienced a cardiac arrest during training. Genetic testing identified a pathogenic mutation in PKP2. The autopsy has confirmed the presence of ACM and a distinctive extracardiac sarcoidosis. Cardiac sarcoidosis and inherited cardiomyopathies may interact in several different ways, altering the clinical presentation. Overlapping pathologies are frequently overlooked. Delayed or incomplete diagnosis risks inadequate treatment. Thus, genetic testing and endomyocardial biopsies should be recommended to obtain a clear diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Ebbinghaus
- Department for Electrophysiology, Heart Center of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Laura Ueberham
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig,Germany
| | | | - Andreas Bollmann
- Department for Electrophysiology, Heart Center of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Paetsch
- Department for Electrophysiology, Heart Center of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cosima Jahnke
- Department for Electrophysiology, Heart Center of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrich Laufs
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig,Germany
| | - Borislav Dinov
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Makhdumi M, Assar MD, Meyer DM, Roberts WC. Cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosed after orthotopic heart transplantation and clinically mimicking arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Pathol 2021; 56:107390. [PMID: 34600147 DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2021.107390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Described herein is a 71-year-old man who underwent orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) for chronic severe heart failure secondary to cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) devoid of non-caseating granulomas but nevertheless characteristic of CS. Clinically, his heart disease had suggested the presence of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madiha Makhdumi
- Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Manish D Assar
- Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States; Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Dan M Meyer
- Departments of Cardiac Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States; Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - William C Roberts
- Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States; Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States.
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Latif A, Patel AD, Kuniyoshi J, Kapoor V, Aggarwal G, Khan BA, Koster N. Ventricular fibrillation as an initial manifestation of cardiac sarcoidosis. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2020; 33:655-657. [DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2020.1785814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Azka Latif
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHI Health Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Apurva D. Patel
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHI Health Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Jason Kuniyoshi
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHI Health Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Vikas Kapoor
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHI Health Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Gaurav Aggarwal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Jersey City, New Jersey
| | - Behram Ahmed Khan
- Department of Cardiology, University of Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Nancy Koster
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHI Health Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
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Differentiating hereditary arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy from cardiac sarcoidosis fulfilling 2010 ARVC Task Force Criteria. Heart Rhythm 2020; 18:231-238. [PMID: 32976989 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical presentation of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) may resemble that of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify clinical variables to better discriminate between patients with genetically determined ARVC and those with CS fulfilling definite 2010 ARVC Task Force Criteria (TFC). METHODS In this multicenter study, 10 patients with CS fulfilling definite 2010 ARVC TFC were age and gender matched with 10 genetically proven ARVC patients. A cardiac 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic (18F-FDG PET) scan was required for patients to be included in the study. RESULTS The 2010 ARVC TFC did not reliably differentiate between the 2 diseases. CS patients presented with longer PR intervals, advanced atrioventricular block (AVB), and longer QRS duration (P <.001 and P = .009, respectively), whereas T-wave inversions (TWIs) in the peripheral leads were more common in ARVC patients (P = .009). CS patients presented with more extensive left ventricular involvement and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), whereas ARVC patients had a larger right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) (P = .044). PET scan positivity was only present in CS patients (90% vs 0%). CONCLUSION The 2010 ARVC TFC do not reliably differentiate between CS patients fulfilling 2010 ARVC TFC and those with hereditary ARVC. Prolonged PR interval, advanced AVB, longer QRS duration, right ventricular apical involvement, reduced LVEF, and positive 18F-FDG PET scan should raise the suspicion of CS, whereas larger RVOT dimensions, subtricuspid involvement and peripheral TWI favor a diagnosis of hereditary ARVC.
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Willy K, Dechering DG, Reinke F, Bögeholz N, Frommeyer G, Eckardt L. The ECG in sarcoidosis - a marker of cardiac involvement? Current evidence and clinical implications. J Cardiol 2020; 77:154-159. [PMID: 32917454 DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology characterized by noncaseating granulomas. Cardiac involvement is often limiting patients' prognosis. Cardiac sarcoidosis can manifest with variant cardiac arrhythmias, of which atrioventricular (AV)-block-related bradycardia and ventricular tachycardias are the most common. Although cardiac sarcoidosis remains a histopathological diagnosis, the significance of imaging modalities, especially cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is increasing rapidly but mainly remains reserved for patients with a high suspicion due to a previous arrhythmia or unknown cardiomyopathy. Thus, there is a need for screening in daily clinical practice so that possible characteristic electrocardiographic (ECG) findings may guide the way to detect the disease. We therefore evaluated the ECG as a potential tool for screening of cardiac sarcoidosis and present different electrophysiological manifestations of cardiac sarcoidosis based on a literature review. The ECG is a valuable tool for screening of cardiac involvement in patients with sarcoidosis. Several parameters have been shown to be associated with cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis such as higher-degree AV-block, QRS complex fragmentation and widening, as well as certain T wave abnormalities that may indicate cardiac involvement, of which the latter two are most promising and specific. However, prospective studies examining a large number of trials are desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Willy
- Department for Cardiology II: Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
| | - Dirk G Dechering
- Department for Cardiology II: Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Florian Reinke
- Department for Cardiology II: Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nils Bögeholz
- Department for Cardiology II: Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Gerrit Frommeyer
- Department for Cardiology II: Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lars Eckardt
- Department for Cardiology II: Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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