Clinical significance of myocardial magnetic resonance abnormalities in patients with sarcoidosis: a 1-year follow-up study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the follow-up of patients with sarcoidosis and myocardial MRI abnormalities.

Materials and methods: Twelve patients with histologically proven sarcoidosis and highly suspected cardiac involvement underwent initial and 12-month follow-up cardiac assessment including cardiac MRI (T2-weighted, functional gradient echo, and T1-weighted gadolinium-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid-enhanced sequences). MRI abnormalities and clinical and MRI progression were scored by two observers.

Results: Six patients receiving corticosteroid therapy (including three patients with clinical cardiac involvement) were scored as having cleared or improved at MRI follow-up, while others were seen to have worsened or remained stable. The stability, improvement, or clearing of MRI findings were correlated with clinically stable, improved or cleared sarcoidosis, while a worsening at MRI follow-up was correlated with a worsening of sarcoidosis and, in one patient, was predictive of clinical cardiac involvement.

Conclusion: Cardiac MRI is a useful noninvasive method for the early diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac sarcoidosis.