Prediction of severe cardiac involvement by fundus lesion in sarcoidosis.

Purpose: We examined the relation between ocular sarcoidosis and severe cardiac sarcoidosis necessitating pacemaker implantation.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study, we reviewed the clinical records of 108 patients diagnosed with ocular sarcoidosis based on new diagnostic criteria established in Japan. We examined and compared the relationship between fundus findings of ocular sarcoidosis and severe cardiac sarcoidosis necessitating pacemaker implantation.

Results: Of 108 patients with ocular sarcoidosis, seven patients (6.5 %) with median age of 61 years (interquartile range 59-63 years) also had severe heart disease leading to implantation of a pacemaker. Median duration of ocular symptoms was 4.5 years (interquartile range 3.6-7.8 years). Of seven patients with severe cardiac involvement, six had multiple peripheral chorioretinal atrophic lesions (MPCAL), two had nodules in the angle and tent-like peripheral anterior synechia, and two had snowball vitreous opacity. The prevalence of atrophic MPCAL lesions was significantly higher than that of other ocular findings (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: In patients with concurrent ocular sarcoidosis and severe cardiac sarcoidosis, MPCAL atrophic lesions were observed significantly more frequently, suggesting that severe cardiac involvement may be predicted by specific fundus lesions.