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

Intern Med. 2000 Mar;39(3):245-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.39.245.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Thallium Radioisotopes
  • Prednisolone