Source
Departments of Radiology, Université René Descartes, Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Fg Saint Jacques, 75679 Paris Cedex 14, France. olivier.vignaux@cch.ap-hop-paris.fr
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.