Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of noncaseating granulomas. Etiology of the disease remains unknown. From 3.7% to 54.9% patients with extra-cardiac sarcoidosis have asymptomatic heart involvement. Conduction abnormalities, arrhythmias and congestive heart failure are the most common clinical manifestations of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the type and frequency of electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and to compare differences in the occurrence of electrocardiographic changes between patients diagnosed with CS and patients without confirmation of CS. Materials and methods: 49 patients (18 women, 31 men), mean age 45.6 ±12.2 years with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 12 patients diagnosed with CS, and Group 2 of 37 patients without diagnosis of CS. 12-lead baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded for all participants. Results: 89.8% patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis had abnormal ECG. The most common ECG abnormalities were ST-T changes observed in 79.6%. Conduction abnormalities were present in 26.5% of patients. 22.45% patients had left axis deviation. Rhythm abnormalities were recorded in 20.4% of all analyzed ECGs. ECGs of 8.16% of patients met criteria of hypertrophy. There was a trend towards more frequent prevalence of some ECG changes in patients with CS than patients without CS. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: We observed a trend towards more frequent prevalence of some ECG abnormalities in a group of patients with CS than in patients without CS. However, these differences were not statistically significant. ECG abnormalities in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis require further diagnostics. JRCD 2017; 3 (3): 81-85

Please cite this article: Knap K, Drabik L, Blaut-Jurkowska J. A successful treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy associated with left ventricular aneurysm and chronic ischaemic mitral regurgitation. J Rare Cardiovasc Dis. 2017; 3(4): xx-xx; doi: http://dx.A 44-year-old man with worsening symptoms of heart failure was admitted to the Centre for Rare Cardiovascular Disease of the John Paul II Hospital in March 2016. He presented with resting dyspnea, chronic fatigue and severely reduced exercise tolerance [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV], and angina [Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class III] for one month. AbstractComplications of myocardial infarction such as left ventricular aneurysm, chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation and heart failure are associated with a poor prognosis. The management of complex defects is challenging and requires an individualized strategy. We describe a case of a 44-year-old male with multiple complications of myocardial infarction including heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, left ventricular aneurysm and mitral regurgitation, treated with mitral valve replacement and left ventricular reconstruction. We discuss pathophysiology and treatment of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation and left ventricular aneurysm. JRCD 2017; 3 (4): 122-128

Sarcoidosis is a systemic, granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Cardiac involvement in the course of sarcoidosis occurs in 5% of patients. However, about 25% of patient with systemic/pulmonary sarcoidosis might present with asymptomatic myocardial injury. The main manifestations of cardiac sarcoidosis are conduction abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure. Diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis remains a challenge for physicians. Treatment should be introduced at the time of diagnosis to prevent potentially lethal progression of cardiac disease. Steroids are the first drugs of choice. Additional anti-sarcoidosis agents are used as alternatives or to reduce the steroids dose. Some patients require implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator for the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Patients with refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmia or severe, intractable heart failure unresponsive to optimal pharmacotherapy, require heart transplantation. Prognosis in cardiac sarcoidosis is highly variable, dependent on location and severity of heart involvement. This article reviews current diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations for cardiac sarcoidosis. JRCD 2017; 3 (2): 37-43