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

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.