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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Cardiac sarcoidosis presenting with complex conduction abnormalities as the first manifestation of widespread systemic sarcoidosis: a case report
Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
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<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous multi-organ disease of unknown aetiology. Despite being relatively rare, cardiac sarcoidosis constitutes a very important manifestation of sarcoidosis, as its symptoms regularly precede or occur in isolation of more prevalent ones, and as it is the main driver of mortality in systemic sarcoidosis.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Case summary</jats:title>
<jats:p>We present the case of a 37-year-old woman, in which clinically isolated cardiac sarcoidosis revealed widespread systemic sarcoidosis. Apart from constitutional symptoms and strong recurrent dizziness (i.e. near-syncopes), which persisted for multiple years already, our patient initially presented with complex conduction abnormalities, including a right bundle branch block, left anterior hemi-block, and atrioventricular block °1. Following inconclusive endomyocardial biopsies, performed due to detection of focal septal scarring on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, an 18F-FDG-PET-CT, performed upon admission to our clinic, showed distinct hypermetabolic lesions indicative of active inflammation in various organs and raised suspicion of systemic sarcoidosis. Eventually, histopathological evidence of non-caseating granulomas in affected lymph nodes, extracted by bronchoscopy, confirmed the diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis after reasonable exclusion of other granulomatous diseases. Immediate initiation of long-term immunosuppressive therapy led to almost complete remission, as monitored by consequential 18F-FDG-PET-CT scans.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Discussion</jats:title>
<jats:p>Unexplained complex conduction abnormalities in young patients may be a sign of sarcoidosis, even in isolation of more prevalent symptoms. Correct interpretation and prompt initiation of a structured interdisciplinary diagnostic workup, including 18F-FDG-PET-CT as the imaging modality of choice, are essential to initiate specific treatment and obviate the major risk of mortality resulting from cardiac sarcoidosis.</jats:p>
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