Sarcoid Heart Disease

Abstract

SARCOIDOSIS, once considered an uncommon curiosity of interest primarily to the dermatologist, is now known for its potential involvement of many organs.^{1 , 2} No longer can the disease be thought of strictly as a benign disorder: it must be counted among the causes of blindness,^{2 , 3} crippling pulmonary disease and cor pulmonale,^{4 5 6} severe neurologic^{7 8 9} and renal disease,¹⁰ hypersplenism and hepatic failure with portal hypertension.^{11 12 13 14} Moreover, within the last thirty years sarcoidosis has been recognized with increasing frequency as a cause of heart disease unrelated to cor pulmonale. The purpose of this study is to present a case of fatal cardiac sarcoidosis, and . . .