Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
07:31
A Model of Cardiac Remodeling Through Constriction of the Abdominal Aorta in Rats
Published on: December 2, 2016
10.9K
[A rare cause of heart failure]
Andreas Gutersohn1, Andreas Oestmann2
1Universitätsklinik für Thoraxchirurgie, Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern.
Praxis
|December 11, 2014
Summary
Sarcoidosis can affect the heart, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy. This case highlights the importance of considering sarcoidosis in patients with unexplained heart conditions and hilar lymphadenopathy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Immunology
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy presents a diagnostic challenge, particularly when ischemic heart disease is ruled out.
- Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy on chest radiography suggests systemic inflammatory or infiltrative processes.
Observation:
- A 52-year-old patient presented with dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Coronary angiography excluded ischemic heart disease.
- Chest radiography revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy.
Findings:
- Transbronchial biopsy confirmed non-necrotizing, epithelioid cell granulomas, leading to a diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
- Cardiac MRI demonstrated structural changes consistent with cardiac sarcoidosis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for sarcoidosis to manifest as dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Early diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis is crucial for appropriate management and preventing adverse cardiac events.
- Multimodality imaging, including cardiac MRI, is valuable in assessing cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Heart Failure I: Introduction
1.4K
Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
1.4K
01:26Imbalances in Cardiac Output
3.5K
The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...
3.5K
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
4.8K
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
4.8K
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
1.6K
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
1.6K
01:20Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction
1.2K
Mitral regurgitation is characterized by the backward circulation of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium during systole, a phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. This abnormal flow occurs primarily due to the dysfunction of the mitral valve or its supporting structures, which include the mitral leaflets, chordae tendineae, annulus, and papillary muscles.Etiology and Mechanisms:Primary Mitral Regurgitation: This type arises from...
1.2K
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
963
Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
963