Postpartum complete atrioventricular block due to cardiac sarcoidosis: steroid therapy without permanent pacemaker.
A 32 year-old woman with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy suffered from syncopal attacks after her first delivery. Electrocardiograms showed complete atrioventricular block (AVB) and myocardial scintigrams demonstrated a decreased uptake in the anteroseptal area. She was diagnosed as having postpartal cardiac acceleration of sarcoidosis. Because she rejected permanent pacemaker implantation, we started steroid therapy under temporary pacing. Fortunately, the treatment was very effective. Even after tapering-off of the steroid, the AVB has never reappeared. Permanent pacemaker implantation with subsequent steroid therapy is generally recommended for complete AVB due to cardiac sarcoidosis. However, steroid therapy alone can be considered for some selected cases.
Sugishita
Kazuro
K
Department of Cardiology, JR Tokyo General Hospital, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Togashi
Yuki
Y
Aizawa
Akira
A
Asakawa
Masako
M
Usui
Shin-ichi
S
Ito
Nobuhiko
N
Yamaguchi
Tetsuo
T
Hada
Yoshiyuki
Y
Takahashi
Toshiyuki
T
D000328:Adult; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy
D005938:Glucocorticoids