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BOECK'S SARCOID WITH INVOLVEMENT OF THE HEART
Author(s) -
ADAMS JOHN L.
Publication year - 1958
Publication title -
australasian annals of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0571-9283
DOI - 10.1111/imj.1958.7.2.167
Subject(s) - medicine , autopsy , sarcoidosis , cardiology , right bundle branch block , ventricular tachycardia , heart block , surgery , electrocardiography
Summary There have been 37 recorded cases of myocardial and two of pericardial sarcoidosis. The diagnosis was made clinically in seven cases and at autopsy in 32. Twelve patients died from primarily cardiac causes, eight suddenly and four in cardiac failure. Abnormalities of rhythm and condition were recorded in 11 patients. The condition is exceedingly rare in the white races, the first case being reported in 1951. The case history and autopsy findings are presented of a 38‐year‐old male who died of pulmonary and cardiac sarcoidosis in May, 1956. The illness commenced with morning cough in 1953, when X‐ray examination showed opacity in both lung fields. In 1954 he began to suffer recurring attacks of dyspnœa, cyanosis and syncope due to paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. Electrocardiograms showed right bundle branch block and there was progressive deterioration in the T ‐wave voltage. The arrhythmia was controlled partly by procaine amide and by quinidine, but these eventually became ineffective. Cortisone therapy was continued for two years. Pulmonary lesions appeared to clear, and the arrhythmia was improved, but recurred on several occasions when the dosage was tapered off.