Treatment Nuances in Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Evaluation and Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Ventricular arrhythmias are a common clinical manifestation in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and other arrhythmogenic inflammatory cardiomyopathies (AIC). The management of sustained ventricular arrhythmias in these patients presents unique challenges. Current therapies include immunosuppressive, antiarrhythmic agents, and catheter ablation. Significant progress has been made in deciphering the importance of patient selection for ablation, systematic preablation evaluation, and optimal ablation timing, as well as ablation approaches and techniques. In this overview, we discuss the evaluation and management of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with CS, focusing on catheter ablation, which has evolved into an effective approach in reducing the burden of ventricular arrhythmias in these patients in the context of multifaceted treatment along with medical therapies.

Prevalence, incidence and survival outcomes of cardiac sarcoidosis in the South Island, New Zealand

AIMS

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is an important cause of mortality in patients with sarcoidosis. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to characterize the prevalence, incidence, clinical features and outcomes of CS in the southern region of New Zealand.

METHODS AND RESULTS

45 patients were identified: 23 fulfilling international classification criteria, 9 fulfilling physician consensus criteria, and 13 classified as possible CS. As of June 2021, 26 patients were living and domiciled in the Canterbury district; estimated point prevalence was 4.43 cases per 100,000 people. The average annual incidence was 0.24 cases per 100,000 people between 2016 and 2020. We estimated a 5.14% frequency of CS in patients with sarcoidosis. Median age at presentation was 56 years (range 31-72). Common presentations included heart failure, heart block and life threatening ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. Electrocardiogram abnormalities were found in 93.3% and cardiac MRI was often relied upon by physicians for diagnosis. The 10-year survival was 94% (95% CI 78-99%).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides further insight into the epidemiology of CS. In this retrospective cohort the frequency of CS amongst patients with sarcoidosis was estimated at 5%, whilst the estimated point prevalence of the disease was twice that of a contemporary report from the Northern hemisphere. The 10-year survival was similar to contemporaneous reports from other developed countries.

Cardiac Involvement In Multiorgan Sarcoidosis: Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease with a highly variable clinical impact. Accurate prognostic evaluation is fundamental to establish the best therapeutic approach. Multiorgan disease and especially the involvement of vital organs, such as the heart, are associated with worse outcomes and often require more aggressive therapy. Here, we describe the case of a young adult with sarcoidosis with lymph node, pulmonary, hepatosplenic, and cardiac involvement. This clinical scenario emphasizes the importance of a thorough prognostic assessment and highlights some of the main unmet clinical needs for the risk stratification and management of these patients.

Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Clinical and subclinical cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) remains diagnostically challenging as the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic modalities are limited. The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare criteria and the Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on CS are the most common guidelines used to diagnose CS. However, they are mostly based on expert opinions and lack clinical trial validation. The emergence and increase use of newer imaging modalities such as cardiac magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography may give valuable information for accurate diagnosis and assessment of treatment response in CS patient. Although immunosuppressive therapies, particularly corticosteroids, have been proposed as the mainstay of treatment in CS, there is paucity of data on the optimal initiation, duration, and dosage of immunosuppressive therapies. Recommendations are mostly based on small observational studies. Further studies are warranted to better characterize the use of immunosuppressive therapies in this patient population. Device therapies such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are usually recommended for patient with clinical CS. In conclusion, this article synthesizes the current best evidence of utilizing various imaging modalities to diagnose CS and summarizing the main therapeutic approaches to manage and treat CS.