[Echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis]

This paper deals with echocardiographic changes in the heart in patients with active intrathoracic sarcoidosis. Heart changes were registered with 10 (38%) out of 26 patients, in all radiological stages of sarcoidosis. Out of 16 patients first radiological stage (BHL) was found with 4 (25%), out of 8 patients second radiological stage was found with 4 (25%), and third radiological stage was found with 2 patients. Out of 10 patients with echocardiographic changes in the heart 4 patients (40%) had increased echoes and hypokinesis of the proximal part of interventricle septum, 3 (30%) had significantly reduced diffusive capacity and pulmonary hypertension. Increased echoes of papillary muscles were registered in two cases, one of them with relatively mitral insufficiency. In one case dilatational incipient cardiomyopathy with second stage of relatively mitral insufficiency was found and in one case increased echoes and hypokinesis of the back wall of the left ventricle were registered. Changes in electrocardiogram were found with 5 (19%) patients suffering from pulmonary sarcoidosis.