Successfully treated complete atrioventricular block with corticosteroid in a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis: usefulness of gallium-67 and thallium-201 scintigraphy.

Abstract

A 71-year-old male with sarcoidosis was followed for 6 years without steroid therapy. He was admitted because of complete atrioventricular block. Chest X-ray showed hilar lymphadenopathy. Echocardiogram showed mild left ventricular hypertrophy without local wall thinning. Cardiac sarcoidosis was diagnosed by a defect of Thallium-201 (Tl-201) imaging and abnormal uptake of Gallium-67 (Ga-67). After the start of corticosteroid therapy, complete atrioventricular block was recovered. Abnormal uptake of Ga-67 was improved. Tl-201 and Ga-67 are useful to diagnose cardiac sarcoidosis, to evaluate the lesion of cardiac involvement and to estimate the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy.

• Authors: K Umetani, T Ishihara, K Yamamoto, T Sawanobori, I Kohno, H Ijiri, S Komori, K Tamura
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 39 Issue 3 Pg. 245-8 (Mar 2000) ISSN: 0918-2918 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 10772129 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gallium Radioisotopes
• Glucocorticoids
• Thallium Radioisotopes
• Prednisolone

Topics

• Aged
• Cardiomyopathies (complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Gallium Radioisotopes
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Heart Block (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Prednisolone (therapeutic use)
• Radionuclide Ventriculography (methods)
• Reproducibility of Results
• Sarcoidosis (complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Thallium Radioisotopes