2D speckle tracking detects early left ventricular dysfunction in patients with sarcoidosis

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin. Cardiac involvement is known to have a poor prognosis; sudden death may be its initial presentation. Conventional echocardiography remains insufficient for the detection of subclinical myocardial dysfunction. In our study we aimed to assess the prevalence of subclinical cardiac dysfunction using left ventricle global longitudinal strain. Results: we performed a cross-sectional study, 55 patients with established diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis and 50 healthy age- and sex-matched controls underwent a transthoracic echocardiography, 9 patients were excluded, and 46 patients were included in the study. Left ventricular dimensions and ejection fraction were similar between the two groups (66% Vs 67%). Left ventricle global longitudinal strain was significantly lower in patients with sarcoidosis (-17.15 +/-3 Vs -22.4+/-2, p: 0.001). Conclusion: left ventricle global longitudinal strain may be an advanced indicator of cardiac sarcoidosis that needs to be studied further.