Tumor necrosis factor- α inhibitor use for treatment of refractory cardiac sarcoidosis in a patient with left ventricular assist device: Adalimumab use in refractory sarcoidosis in a patient with left ventricular assist device

Sarcoidosis is an increasingly prevalent systemic disease resulting in granulomatous inflammation.1,2 Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) can manifest as systolic heart failure (HF) resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. CS that progresses to end-stage HF may benefit from left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy to improve outcomes.3 The treatment of myocardial inflammation, as determined by 18-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), with immunosuppressive agents is central to prevent adverse cardiovascular events such as ventricular arrhythmias and even death.
Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Tags: CASE ANECDOTE, COMMENTS AND OPINIONS Source Type: research