Late gadolinium enhancement in cardiac sarcoidosis: characteristic magnetic resonance findings and relationship with left ventricular function.

PURPOSE: Cardiac involvement is an important prognostic factor in sarcoidosis, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) can facilitate the identification of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). In patients with CS, we investigated LGE characteristics and their relationship with left ventricular (LV) function to identify those characteristics unique to severely reduced LV function. We also investigated the relationship between LGE and duration of sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 19 patients with CS diagnosed according to the 2006 revised guidelines of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare who underwent CMR imaging. We analyzed LGE location using 17-segment and subsegment (subepicardial, midwall, subendocardial, and transmural) models and evaluated the relationship between the characteristics of LGE and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and duration of sarcoidosis. RESULTS: Images of 17 of the 19 patients showed LGE most frequently in the subepicardial layer. The total number of affected segments with LGE correlated significantly with LVEF (r=-0.84, P<0.0001) and LV-diastolic volumes (r=0.88, P<0.0001). Transmural lesions were significantly more common in patients with LVEF of 35% or lower than in those with LVEF exceeding 35% (P=0.0004). All patients with LVEF of 35% or lower had both subepicardial and transmural lesions. The total number of affected segments with LGE correlated with the duration of sarcoidosis in patients with onset in an extracardiac organ (r=0.76, P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Demonstration of a characteristic LGE pattern and location allows diagnosis of CS, and CMR imaging with LGE aids in prediction of LV function.

Characteristics of acute congestive heart failure with normal ejection fraction and less elevated B-type natriuretic peptide.

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneity in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, especially among individuals with acute heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (HFNEF), can cause confusion in interpreting results. We investigated the characteristics of cases of acute HFNEF with only modestly elevated BNP. METHODS: One hundred forty-two patients with acute or acute exacerbation of chronic HFNEF were divided into two groups by BNP level: BNP < 100 pg/ml (NB group, n = 45) and BNP > or = 100 pg/ml (B group, n = 97). We compared clinical findings, echocardiography results, and neurohormonal factors between these two groups. RESULTS: In the NB group, a history of open-heart surgery (OHS) was more frequent (71% vs. 22%, p < 0.0001) and hypertension was less frequent (p = 0.0005). Left atrial diameter (LAd) was higher (p = 0.0026), while interventricular septal thickness, posterior wall thickness, relative wall thickness, left ventricular mass index were lower (p = 0.0005, p = 0.0225, p = 0.0114, p = 0.0051, respectively) in the NB group. In patients with HFNEF, a history of OHS remained an independent predictor of BNP level (< 100 pg/ml) after adjustment for hypertension, age, LAd, and interventricular septal thickness (odds ratio 3.6, p = 0.0252). CONCLUSION: We found associations between acute HFNEF with less elevated BNP and a history of OHS. In a patient suspected of HFNEF, a history of OHS is considered diagnostic evidence of presence of diastolic heart failure when plasma levels of BNP are less elevated.