[Current methods of examination in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis of the heart].

Marked clinical or electrocardiographic changes, suggestive of heart disease, were only detected in 14 (7%) of 190 patients with sarcoidosis. Diffuse myocardial accumulation of 99mTc pyrophosphate (2+ or 3+) was seen in 12 (43%) of 28 patients with active sarcoidosis. Repeated scintigraphy showed normal values in 3 patients after a course of corticosteroid therapy. Echocardiographic signs of heart disease were found in 33 (37%) of 89 patients, including left-ventricular contractility disorders in 21, thinning (5) or thickening (7) of left-ventricular wall and ventricular septum, mitral prolapse in 3 and limited pericardial exudate in 5. Signs of pulmonary heart were detected in 17 patients. Clinical and electrocardiographic symptoms of cardiac sarcoidosis were significantly more frequent in patients with myocardial Tc-pyrophosphate accumulation and echocardiographic changes. It is suggested that myocardial Tc-pyrophosphate scintigraphy and echocardiography may be used for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis, including its latent forms.