Evaluation of findings in non-invasive cardiac diagnostics with imaging and functional tests of the lungs in sarcoidosis

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory granulomatous disease most commonly found in the lungs, and less frequently in other organs such as the lymph nodes or the heart. Materials and methods: In this observational study, 62 adult patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were enrolled. Their preexisting pulmonary diagnostics, including imaging and functional tests, were analyzed. Additionally, non-invasive cardiological diagnostics: electrocardiography (ECG), Holter electrocardiography (Holter ECG), transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and laboratory tests were performed.Results: The most common findings were numerous ventricular arrhythmias (20.34%), pericardial effusion (40.32%), and left ventricular relaxation disorders (29.03%). A positive correlation was found between the duration of sarcoidosis and wall motion score index (WMSI; p = 0.026), as well as between the stage of sarcoidosis in chest X-ray/computed tomography (CXR/CT) and tricuspid regurgitation peak gradient – TRPG (p = 0.001). An inverse correlation was found between diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and the stage of sarcoidosis (p = 0.037), forced vital capacity (FVC) and ventricular systolic asynchrony (p = 0.044), both forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FVC, and the width of the pulmonary trunk (p = 0.046 and p = 0.045), both FEV1 and FVC, and the width of the right ventricle (p = 0.036 and p = 0.04), and total lung capacity (TLC) and the width of the left atrium (p = 0.007). Conclusions: A longer duration of the disease was associated with more advanced heart involvement. Higher stages of sarcoidosis were associated with more frequent cardiac changes.