[Cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis. Results of a prospective study of 37 cases]

An evaluation of the incidence of cardiac lesions in sarcoidosis was conducted in a group of patients with progressive pulmonary signs of the disease. Five non-invasive methods: echocardiogram, ECG, Holter, effort ECG, and thallium scintigraphy were employed on a routine basis; 31 patients were investigated by all procedures, scintigraphy being performed in all 37 cases. First degree auriculoventricular block was detected in only one case, this being compatible with cardiac sarcoidosis, though the possibility of a congenital lesion could not be excluded. The ECG remains an essential investigation among those employed, other examinations not supplying superior data. Scintigraphy appears to be of positive value, as faults in localized uptake were demonstrated in 17 p. cent of cases, these possibly corresponding to intramyocardial granulomas.