Reduction in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on serial cardiac positron emission tomography is associated with improved left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis

Abstract Background Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is associated with poor prognosis, making early diagnosis and treatment important. The aim of this study is to evaluate our diagnostic results and follow-up for the diagnosis of CS in a tertiary center. Methods We studied 188 patients with proven extra-cardiac sarcoidosis referred to our outpatient clinic for evaluation of cardiac involvement. Eight patients were excluded because electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was missing. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and/or positron emission tomography (PET) was performed in 66% and 37% of the patients, respectively. Median follow-up duration was 2.9 [1.2–5.3] years. The diagnosis of CS was based on the Heart Rhythm Society criteria. Results Cardiac symptoms defined as palpitations, angina, dyspnea and (near)-syncope were present in 156 of 180 (87%) patients. Any abnormality on ECG (bundle branch blocks, atrioventricular blocks, sinus tachycardia or atrial fibrillation) and/or TTE (left ventricular ejection fraction <55%, presence of regional wall abnormalities or myocardial hypertrophy) was found in 92/180 (51%) patients. CS was diagnosed in 42 of 180 (23%) patients, of whom 31 (74%) had any ECG and/or TTE abnormalities. However, ECG and/or TTE abnormalities were also present in 44% of the patients without cardiac involvement. Patients with CS showed a second type II or third degree AV-blocks in 3/42 (7%), a left ventricular ejection fraction <35% on TTE in 9/42 (21%), late gadolinium enhancement by CMR consistent with CS in 28/34 (82%), and myocardial FDG uptake by PET in 19/31 (61%). In 84 of the 138 patients without cardiac involvement, CMR was performed. In 15 patients an alternative diagnosis was found (i.e. myocardial infarction or other non-ischemic cardiomyopathy). The estimated 8-year cumulative event rate composite endpoint of sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, aborted sudden cardiac death, heart transplantation and all-cause mortality was 41% in the CS patients and 12% in the patients without CS (Figure 1, p<0.001). Conclusions In our study, 23% of the patients with proven extra-cardiac sarcoidosis was diagnosed with CS. Cardiac symptoms, ECG and TTE were of limited diagnostic value for screening for CS. CMR provided a good diagnostic yield and identified other cardiac diseases in a substantial number of patients. Figure 1. KMCurve_CompositeEndpoint Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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Ventricular fibrillation via torsade des pointes of cardiac sarcoidosis with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2016-216936 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. bcr2016216936

Author(s):

Takayuki Sekihara ◽

Eisaku Nakane ◽

Kazutaka Nakasone ◽

Moriaki Inoko

Keyword(s):

Ventricular Fibrillation ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Cardiac Sarcoidosis ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Ventricular Ejection ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction

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Influence of adenosine and regadenoson on left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial blood flow and hemodynamics in vasodilator 82-Rubidium PET

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jeab111.065 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

S Frey ◽

U Honegger ◽

OF Clerc ◽

F Caobelli ◽

PH Haaf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Myocardial Blood Flow ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Ventricular Ejection ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Flow Reserve ◽

Positron Emission

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Most 82Rubidium-(Rb)-Positron emission tomography (PET) studies for myocardial perfusion, dipyridamole was used as vasodilator. Less data is available for adenosine and regadenoson. Purpose Therefore, the aim was to evaluate the influence of adenosine and regadenoson on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial blood flow (MBF) and hemodynamics in vasodilator 82Rb-PET. Methods Consecutive patients (n = 2299) with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing 82Rb-PET were studied and compared according to CAD status and normal/abnormal PET (abnormal defined as summed stress score ≥4). Differences between stress and rest values (LVEF, MBF, hemodynamics) were calculated. The threshold of stress LVEF able to exclude a relevant ischemia (as defined by ≥10% myocardium ischemic based on SDS score) was assessed. Results Rest and stress LVEF differed significantly depending on CAD status and scan results. In patients with suspected CAD, rest/stress LVEF were 68 ± 12% and 73 ± 12% (p < 0.001), in patients with prior CAD 60 ± 14% and 63 ± 15% (p < 0.001). LVEF during stress increased 5 ± 6% in normal compared to 1 ± 8% in abnormal PET (p < 0.001). Global rest MBF (rMBF), stress MBF (sMBF) and myocardial flow reserve (sMBF/rMBF) were significantly higher in suspected CAD patients compared to prior CAD patients (1.3 ± 0.5, 3.3 ± 0.9, 2.6 ± 0.8 and 1.2 ± 0.4, 2.6 ± 0.8, 2.4 ± 0.8 ml/g/min, respectively, p < 0.001), and in normal versus abnormal scans, irrespective of CAD status (no CAD: 1.4 ± 0.5, 3.5 ± 0.8, 2.8 ± 0.8 and 1.2 ± 0.8, 2.5 ± 0.8, 2.2 ± 0.7; known CAD: 1.3 ± 0.4, 3.1 ± 0.8, 2.7 ± 0.8 and 1.1 ± 0.4, 2.3 ± 0.7, 2.2 ± 0.7 ml/g/min, respectively, p < 0.001). LVEF and hemodynamic values were similar for adenosine and regadenoson stress. Stress LVEF ≥70% excluded relevant ischemia with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 94% (CI 92-95%). Conclusions Rest/stress LVEF, LVEF reserve and MBF values are lower in abnormal compared with normal scans. Adenosine and regadenoson seem to have similar effect on stress LVEF, MBF and hemodynamics. A stress LVEF ≥70% has a high NPV to exclude relevant ischemia.

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