Cardiac Sarcoidosis Multi-Center Prospective Cohort
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Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 99 years old?
Source: NCT01477359, who can take part
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- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
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Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
- Trial code
- NCT01477359
- Record updated
- 4 November 2026
- Original description
Recent data has shown that sarcoidosis, presenting initially with cardiac manifestations (CS) of either conduction system disease or cardiomyopathy and sustained VT, is not uncommon. A Canadian physician survey found that most physicians do not investigate for CS as a possibility in these situations. Thus many patients with clinically important CS are going un-diagnosed. A study from Finland showed that missing the diagnosis of CS in these patients' leads to significant mortality and morbidity.Read full original descriptionShow less
Cardiac Sarcoidosis Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study
Recent data has shown that sarcoidosis, presenting initially with cardiac manifestations (CS) of either conduction system disease or cardiomyopathy and sustained VT, is not uncommon. A Canadian physician survey found that most physicians do not investigate for CS as a possibility in these situations. Thus many patients with clinically important CS are going un-diagnosed. A study from Finland showed that missing the diagnosis of CS in these patients' leads to significant mortality and morbidity.
There are no published clinical consensus guidelines on treatment of CS. Corticosteroid therapy is advocated by most experts. This is based on very modest data from small retrospective observational studies using variable definitions of clinical response. The effect of corticosteroid treatment on the clinical course of CS has not been studied in prospective studies and will be one of the aims of this project. Recent physician surveys regarding CS, in Canada and the US, found that current clinical practice varies widely. The 2008 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Rhythm society guidelines recommend implantation of a defibrillator (Class IIa recommendation) to prevent sudden cardiac death. The most recent Canadian device therapy guidelines do not mention CS.
A multi-center collaborative approach to study CS is greatly needed." The investigators propose exactly that i.e. a multi-center prospective cohort to start to answer clinical questions. The investigators have formed the CANADIAN CARDIAC SARCOIDOSIS RESEARCH GROUP. The group includes respirologists with an interest in sarcoidosis, cardiac electrophysiologists, cardiac imaging specialists with extensive experience in imaging of sarcoidosis and biostatisticians. The research will be in two phases; a registry of current diagnostic approaches, treatment and prognosis, and a randomized clinical trial of the effect of corticosteroid treatment on the clinical course of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Inclusion: To diagnose Clinically Manifest CS all following criteria must be met:; (i) Positive biopsy* for Sarcoid (either EMB or extra-cardiac) AND/OR (ii) CT Chest highly suggestive of pulmonary sarcoidosis AND (iii) one or more of the following clinical features:; advanced conduction system disease (sustained Mobitz II AV block or third degree AV block); non- sustained or sustained ventricular arrhythmia; ventricular dysfunction (LVEF < 50% and/or RVEF < 40%) AND (iv) No alternative explanation for clinical features AND (v) FDG-PET suggestive of active CS; To diagnose clinically silent CS all of the following criteria must be met; (i) Biopsy proven extra-cardiac sarcoidosis; AND/OR (ii) CT Chest highly suggestive of pulmonary sarcoidosis; AND (iii) CMR suggestive of cardiac sarcoidosis; AND (iv) Does not have criteria for clinically manifest CS ie. should not have any of following; advanced conduction system disease (sustained Mobitz II AV block or third degree AV block); non- sustained or sustained ventricular arrhythmia; ventricular dysfunction (LVEF < 50% and/or RVEF < 40%); Patients with negative CMR will be designated as 'extra-cardiac sarcoidosis with no evidence of CS' and followed as control.
Exclusion: age < 18 years; unable or unwilling to provide informed consent; patients who are pregnant or lactating; patients with known claustrophobia.