Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
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Comparative Study
Long-term follow-up of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in cardiac sarcoidosis. To date, the prevalence and incidence of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) in this population remain unknown. ⋯ Ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring ICD therapy were common in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis, with an estimated incidence rate of 15% per year. Longer follow-up, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and complete heart block were associated with VT/VF. Patients with primary prevention ICDs had high rates of appropriate ICD therapy but not as high as did secondary prevention patients. In the absence of reliable risk stratification techniques, consideration should be given to prophylactic ICD implantation in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.