Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular aneurysm due to unrecognized sarcoidosis

• Published in: Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) Vol. 13; no. 10; pp. 738 - 740
• Main Authors: Jain, A., Starek, P. J. K., Delany, D. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.10.1990; Wiley
• Subjects: Adult; aneurysm; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiomyopathies - complications; Cardiomyopathies - diagnosis; coronary angiography; Female; Heart Aneurysm - etiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; sarcoidosis; Sarcoidosis - complications; Sarcoidosis - diagnosis; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Tachycardia - etiology; Tachycardia - therapy; ventricular tachycardia; Heart; Human; Skin disease; Sarcoidosis; Arrhythmia; Aneurysm; Cardiovascular disease; Differential diagnostic; Excitability disorder; Case study; Pathology; Systemic disease; Paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia
• ISSN: 0160-9289; 1932-8737
• DOI: 10.1002/clc.4960131014

Cardiac involvement due to sarcoidosis is well recognized. Arrhythmias have been recognized in up to 50% of patients who have cardiac involvement. We report on two patients with no systemic manifestations of sarcoidosis who presented with refractory ventricular tachycardia. Evaluation demonstrated atypical left ventricular “aneurysms” with normal coronary arteries. Surgical pathology demonstrated granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. Despite extensive surgical resection, they continued to have symptomatic ventricular tachycardia requiring implantation of a defibrillator. Recognition of sarcoidosis as an etiology for ventricular tachycardia and aneurysm is important for possible avoidance of surgery.