Cardiac sarcoidosis masquerading as ventricular tachycardia storm: a challenging diagnosis.
William W AitkenDarren C TsangSandra ChaparroDevika KirPublished in: BMJ case reports (2021)
A 67-year-old African-American woman with remote history of complete heart block (s/p pacemaker 3 years ago) and recent onset of ventricular tachycardia (VT) (s/p VT ablation and cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator upgrade 3 months ago) presented to the hospital with VT storm. Workup showed newly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with global hypokinesis (20%) and restrictive physiology. Positive technetium pyrophosphate scan was suspicious for TTR amyloid while serological workup revealed a monoclonal gammopathy. Cardiac MRI was contraindicated given remote brain aneurysm clip. Given clinical suspicion for cardiac sarcoidosis and divergent non-invasive workup, endomyocardial biopsy was performed which showed non-necrotising granulomas consistent with cardiac sarcoidosis. She was started on steroids with clinical improvement. Cardiac sarcoidosis is a challenging clinical diagnosis, particularly in patients without extracardiac manifestations. This case highlights the importance of a detailed and thorough workup of non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and being cognizant of infiltrative disease as it can change patient management and outcomes.
Keyphrases
- left ventricular
- ejection fraction
- aortic stenosis
- african american
- cardiac resynchronization therapy
- healthcare
- computed tomography
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- emergency department
- stem cells
- end stage renal disease
- mesenchymal stem cells
- atrial fibrillation
- contrast enhanced
- prognostic factors
- magnetic resonance
- coronary artery disease
- acute coronary syndrome
- left atrial
- resting state
- aortic valve
- adipose tissue
- functional connectivity
- blood brain barrier
- multiple myeloma
- inferior vena cava
- cell therapy
- cerebral ischemia