Determining the Optimal Age Cutoff to Investigate for Cardiac Sarcoidosis in Patients with Complete Heart Block
Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare condition marked by granulomatous inflammation that can lead to myocardial fibrosis, heart failure, arrhythmias, and conduction defects such as complete heart block (CHB). Although CS affects about 5% of those with sarcoidosis, it often goes undiagnosed, especially in CHB cases.1 Due to the urgency of CHB treatment, patients may receive permanent pacemakers without further evaluation, as current guidelines suggest.2 However, in CS, a level IIA recommendation supports implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to address CHB and protect against ventricular arrhythmias.
