Holter Monitoring and Cardiac Biomarkers in Screening for Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Introduction: Early detection of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is crucial due to its association with severe complications such as ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Advanced imaging techniques like cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT) are effective in detecting CS but not easily accessible. The optimal method for selecting patients for advanced screening remains uncertain.

Prednisone vs methotrexate in treatment naïve cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Side effects limit the long-term use of glucocorticoids in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), and methotrexate has gained attention as steroid sparing agent although the supporting evidence is poor. This study compared prednisone monotherapy, methotrexate monotherapy or a combination of both, in the reduction of myocardial Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and clinical stabilization of CS patients.

Methods And Results: In this retrospective cohort study, 61 newly diagnosed and treatment naïve CS patients commenced treatment with prednisone (N = 21), methotrexate (N = 30) or prednisone and methotrexate (N = 10) between January 2010 and December 2017.

Predictors of appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator therapy in cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is associated with an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. An implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) is recommended in a subgroup of CS patients. However, the recommendations for primary prevention differ between guidelines.

The usefulness of repeated CMR and FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of patients with initial possible cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) diagnosis is usually based on advanced imaging techniques and multidisciplinary evaluation. Diagnosis is classified as definite, probable, possible or unlikely. If diagnostic confidence remains uncertain, cardiac imaging can be repeated.

Long-term monitoring of arrhythmias with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is challenging in patients without overt cardiac symptoms.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and mortality after long-term monitoring with a cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) in CS patients identified after systematic screening of patients with extracardiac sarcoidosis (ECS).

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 547 predominantly Caucasian patients with ECS screened for cardiac involvement.