Excerpt

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas that can affect different organs.1 The rate of cardiac involvement by sarcoidosis is variable and ranges from 20% to 75%.2,3 Granulomas in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) can be found in any part of the heart, but the left ventricle, interventricular septum, and the papillary muscle are the most frequently involved.3,4 The prevalence of clinically evident cardiac involvement is ~ 5% and is one of the major causes of disease-related death.4 Patients with CS might start with asymptomatic myocardial injury followed by congestive heart failure, ventricular tachyarrhythmia, conduction disturbances, or sudden cardiac death.5 Early diagnosis of CS is a key factor for implementing specific strategies to improve the prognosis.4 In fact, treatment with corticosteroids may slow the progression of heart failure, whereas implantable cardiac defibrillators can be lifesaving.6 …