Determination of Cardiac Involvement of Sarcoidosis with Cardiac MR, ECHO, and Holter ECG*

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin, which principally affects lungs and lymphatic system. Even though cardiac involvement is rarely seen in sarcoidosis patients, it is important as it causes fatal outcomes. In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis cases with late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MR studies, Echocardiography and Holter ECG. Forty-nine cases with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis that presented to Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty between January 2004 and August 2013 were planned to enroll this study. Male / female ratio of the enrolled patients was 6.1 and their mean age was 46.3 ± 10.6. A 24-hour holter recording and echocardiography were performed to the patients. After these procedures delayed gadolinium involvement was observed in cardiac MR, by administering intravenous gadolinium. In conclusion, gadolinium involvement in MR was detected in 16 (33%) of 49 cases. There was no significant difference between the 24 hours holter records of these patients with involvement and the patients without involvement. In ECHO evaluation while the systolic function was maintained, it was seen that diastolic functions were deteriorated in patients with MR involvement. In the light of our study and the other studies done before, we can say that delayed gadolinium involvement in MR is a usable imaging with high specifity and sensitivity in cardiac involvement of Sarcoidosis. This imaging method should take place especially among diagnostic methods of patients having abnormal findings in ECG, Holter ECG and ECHO.