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Sarcoidosis presenting as heart disease
J E Nelson1, P A Kirschner, A S Teirstein
1Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA.
Insights
Sarcoidosis rarely affects only the heart. This study highlights 3 cases where conduction problems appeared years before other sarcoidosis signs, emphasizing its cardiac diagnostic importance.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease.
- Isolated cardiac sarcoidosis is uncommon.
- Conduction disturbances can be an early sign.
Abstract:
It is unusual for sarcoidosis to present with isolated cardiac involvement. We report 3 patients in whom conduction disturbances preceded other clinical or radiographic evidence of sarcoidosis, in 2 cases by several years. The literature of sarcoidosis manifesting solely with cardiac disease is reviewed. Our report is intended to emphasize consideration of sarcoidosis in the diagnostic evaluation of cardiac disease without another obvious cause, particularly in young patients with conduction disturbances, arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathy. We suggest diagnostic strategies and a therapeutic approach.