Suppression of Ventricular Tachycardia Associated with Cardiac Sarcoidosis by Steroid Therapy

In patients with cardiac sarcoidosis, ventricular tachycardia (VT) is observed in some cases. However, effective therapies for the VT are still unknown.

Case: A 50-year old female with cardiac sarcoidosis underwent DDD pacemaker implantation for a high degree atrioventricular block with symptoms of faintness and shortness of breath. One month after the surgery, she was admitted for frequent episodes of non-sustained VT. In the electrophysiologic study (EPS), sustained monomorphic VT and ventricular fibrillation were induced; therefore pacemaker was replaced with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Amiodarone was started orally but it couldn't suppress frequent VT episodes, and frequent ICD shocks were delivered. When the oral steroid therapy was initiated for the cardiac sarcoidosis, it not only suppressed the frequent VT but also improved the atrioventricular nodal dysfunction.

In conclusion, steroid therapy might be an option to consider in cardiac sarcoidosis with refractory VT.