Cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis (author's transl)

Abstract

Standard electrocardiogram (ECG), His-bundle electrogram and biphasic thallium myocardial scanning was undertaken in 13 patients with histologically confirmed sarcoidosis (lung stages I--III). Changes in the standard ECG were present in five (sinus bradycardia, A-V nodal and intraventricular conduction disturbances, non-specific S-T--T changes). The His-bundle electrogram was abnormal in four of eleven patients in whom it was recorded (sick-sinus syndrome, supraventricular extrasystoles, damage to A-V node and supraventricular extrasystoles, damage to A-V node and intraventricular conduction disturbances). In seven of twelve patients who had thallium scans there was a definite irreversible defect, questionable abnormality in three others. Seven of ten patients who had all three tests had definite abnormalities in at least one of them. The electrophysiological findings and the abnormal scans point to cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis.