Cardiac Sarcoidosis
What is it?
Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that involves the body's immune cells forming clumps called "granulomas" which can damage organs in the body. Cardiac sarcoidosis is when this process affects the heart, which is about a quarter of all cases.
Unlike many other organs, the heart muscle cannot regenerate after damage and may form scars. This can adversely affect how well the heart functions or lead to heart rhythm disturbances.
What are the symptoms?
Cardiac sarcoidosis can present with a range of symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations or blackouts.
Some patients may have no symptoms but are diagnosed incidentally.
This condition has also been reported in post-mortem examinations, after patients suffer sudden death. However this is rare.
Cardiac sarcoidosis is known to "mimic" other heart conditions in presentation. If suspected, patients should be reviewed by a specialist.
How is it diagnosed?
There is no single test capable of diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis.
The diagnosis is made by specialists with experience in managing this condition, often with the aid of advanced cardiac imaging such as cardiac MRI and PET scans.
The diagnosis also benefits from wider discussions by the cardiac sarcoidosis specialist with other consultant colleagues with experience in sarcoidosis management.
How is it treated?
Treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis depends on reaching a confident diagnosis by the specialist.
The earlier a correct diagnosis is made the better the long term outcomes.
The clinical management is offered by a case-by-case basis in partnership with the patient.
If you or your doctor suspect cardiac sarcoidosis, it is advisable to consult a specialist as soon as possible.
Who should see a specialist?
Any patient with a known history of sarcoidosis who develops new cardiac symptoms, abnormal ECG or echocardiogram (ultrasound heart scan) should be reviewed as soon as possible by a specialist.
Any patient with unexplained advanced heart block or ventricular tachycardia (a type of serious heart rhythm disturbance) or unexplained heart failure should also be reviewed.