Background

Sarcoidosis is a systemic chronic granulomatous disease with unknown etiology, where cardiac involvement Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CS) represents an important prognostic factor. CS may be asymptomatic or present with severe tachyarrhythmia, heart failure or even be a cause of sudden cardiac death (Tadic M et al, Heart Fail Rev, 2021). Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (cMR) with late gadolinium enhancement has proved a useful tool for noninvasive diagnosis of CS (Crouser ED et al, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2020).

Aim

Evaluating the prevalence of CS in a cohort of patients with previous diagnosis of Sarcoidosis through cMR with late gadolinium enhancement.

Methods

152 patients (mean age 58.7 ± 9.5; female 55,33%) followed by our Center of Rare Respiratory Diseases were histologically diagnosed with pulmonary Sarcoidosis between 2015 and 2022. 77 (50,7%) patients underwent cMR within 6 months from diagnosis. 5 (3,3%) patients were ineligible for cMR.

Results

In 29 patients (37%; 51.8% males) a cardiac involvement was found. They were asymptomatic for chest pain or arrhythmias. The most common lesion was non ischemic myocardial injury (24 patients, 88,9%), mostly involving the interventricular junction, the left ventricular wall, the interventricular septum, and the right ventricular free wall.

Conclusions

Sarcoidosis was more prevalent in females (55,3%), though CS was equally represented between males and females. Albeit the absence of cardiovascular symptoms, the patients started a regular cardiological follow-up. In our experience, cMR represents a useful tool for the evaluation of cardiac involvement in patients with Sarcoidosis and might be important for an early detection of CS