Yazaki et al evaluated outcomes for Japanese patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. They identified factors associated with increased mortality. The authors are from Shinshyu University in Matsumoto, Japan.
Patient selection: Japanese patients with cardiac sarcoidosis
Independent predictors of mortality:
(1) NYHA class (hazard ratio 7.7 per class, reference Class I)
(2) left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (hazard ratio 2.6 for each 10 mm in diameter)
(3) sustained ventricular tachycardia (hazard ratio 7.2)
where:
• The handling of the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was modified in the implementation.
A patient without any of these risk factors who is started on corticosteroids before development of cardiac damage should have an excellent prognosis.
A patient with multiple predictors may benefit from more aggressive management including cardiac transplantation.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
