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Assessment of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Reserve and Intracellular Diastolic Calcium Removal in Isolated Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Published on: September 18, 2017
Insights
Sarcoid heart disease is increasingly diagnosed and prompt treatment can significantly improve outcomes. Early recognition of this condition is crucial for better patient prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sarcoid heart disease (SHD) is often underdiagnosed.
- Cardiac involvement is a frequent cause of mortality in sarcoidosis.
- SHD can present with various cardiac issues, including arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the increasing diagnosis of SHD.
- To emphasize the importance of recognizing SHD for improved prognosis.
- To discuss the clinical presentations and diagnostic considerations for SHD.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical cases and literature on sarcoid heart disease.
- Emphasis on diagnostic challenges and clinical presentations.
- Discussion of treatment implications and prognostic factors.
Main Results:
- Sarcoidosis is increasingly diagnosed during life and post-mortem.
- Cardiac problems are the most frequent presentations of clinically significant SHD.
- Histological confirmation of sarcoidosis is recommended for diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Sarcoidosis should be considered in unexplained heart disease.
- Early diagnosis and energetic treatment of SHD can improve prognosis.
- Prognosis for SHD is not necessarily poor with appropriate management.
Abstract:
Sarcoid heart disease has had slow recognition but it is now being increasingly diagnosed in life and at necropsy. Recognition is important as energetic treatment may greatly improve the prognosis. Although patients with 'classical' sarcoidosis may be found to have cardiac involvement, most of the clinically important cases present with cardiac problems--sudden death, heart block, tachyarrhythmias and 'cardiomyopathy'--are the most frequent presentations. Sarcoidosis should be thought of in any case of difficult heart disease for which there is no obvious aetiology. Histological confirmation of sarcoidosis in some organ should be sought. Energetic treatment and follow up show that the prognosis is not necessarily bad.
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Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
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Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
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Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

