[Thallium myocardial scintigraphy, hemodynamics and left ventricular wall kinetics in patients with suspected myocardial sarcoidosis].

The cardiological examination of 22 patients (pts) with suspected heart sarcoidosis (histologically established lung sarcoidosis, heart rhythm disturbances, cardiomegaly) has revealed thallium scan defects in 20 pts at rest and during exercise. In 19 pts we found pathologic left heart wall motions established by laevocardiography by applying the half axis method. The number of pathologic half axis shortenings correlated with ejection fraction, but not with left ventricular enddiastolic pressure and left ventricular enddiastolic volume index. IHD could not be found in coronarography in any case. Myocardial biopsy did not show myocarditis. Cardiomyopathies, other specific heart muscle diseases or rheumatic myocarditis could not be excluded as causes of the results mentioned above. The follow-up examinations of the patients will give more detailed information on the etiology of the pathologic cardiac findings.