ABSTRACT
Cardiac sarcoidosis is a rare but important differential diagnosis in patients who present with progressive heart failure and arrhythmia. It may be diagnosed on endomyocardial biopsy. An excellent response can be achieved with steroid therapy in the early acute inflammatory stage. Progression of the disease may lead to end-stage heart failure that requires implantation of a permanent pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to heart transplantation. We present three Hong Kong Chinese patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathies/therapy , Sarcoidosis/therapy , Adult , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/etiology , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/therapy , Biopsy , Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis , Defibrillators, Implantable , Female , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Granuloma/pathology , Heart Failure/etiology , Heart Failure/therapy , Heart Transplantation , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Myocardium/pathology , Sarcoidosis/diagnosis , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/etiology , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/therapyABSTRACT
Management of primary pulmonary hypertension is usually difficult because the disease is uncommon and the aetiology of the disease is not well understood. The disease is potentially lethal because it can lead to failure of the right ventricle, low cardiac output, and ensuing multiple organ failure. We report the successful treatment of a case of low-output syndrome due to primary pulmonary hypertension using combined drug therapy and atrial septostomy. Latest developments in the treatment of this disease are also discussed.
