Cardiac sarcoidosis: a potentially fatal but treatable form of infiltrative heart disease.
Cardiac sarcoidosis is a rare but important differential diagnosis in patients who present with progressive heart failure and arrhythmia. It may be diagnosed on endomyocardial biopsy. An excellent response can be achieved with steroid therapy in the early acute inflammatory stage. Progression of the disease may lead to end-stage heart failure that requires implantation of a permanent pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to heart transplantation. We present three Hong Kong Chinese patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.
Chau
E M C
EM
Department of Cardiology, Grantham Hospital, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. echau@hkucc.hku.hk
Fan
K Y Y
KY
Chow
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents