Cardiac sarcoidosis. State of the art

Sarcoidosis is a rare disease of unknown etiology, described over 80 years ago. It is a multisystemic disorder characterized by the presence of granulomatous lesions without caseation. Cardiac involvement varies according to the region, but it is generally accepted that 5 % of patients with systemic sarcoidosis have cardiac infiltration with clinical evidence; however, autopsy studies indicate that up to 20 % to 30 % of patients with sarcoidosis have myocardial involvement. Several factors -environmental, occupational and infectious- have been proposed as triggers of the process in individuals with genetic predisposition. Cardiac sarcoidosis may have a wide range of presentations and may even be asymptomatic; the most common manifestations are heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm and lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Treatment includes medications for heart failure, steroids and immune-suppressants, management of lethal arrhythmias with ablation and/or implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac transplantation in severe cases