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Prevention of left ventricular remodeling by long-term corticosteroid therapy in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2004.08.083Get rights and content

Forty-three patients with cardiac sarcoidosis were studied echocardiographically before and after (mean follow-up 88 months) steroid therapy to determine the effectiveness of corticosteroids to prevent left ventricular (LV) remodeling and improve LV contractility. In patients with initial LV ejection fractions (LVEFs) ≥55%, long-term steroid therapy showed preventive effects for LV remodeling and LV function. Patients with LVEF <54% showed significant reductions of LV volumes and LVEF improvement. However, in patients with LVEFs <30%, steroid therapy resulted in neither LV volume reductions nor improved LVEFs. In the early or middle stage of the disease, steroid therapy may be protective or therapeutic in preventing LV remodeling and preserving LV function. However, it may not be as effective in the late stage.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Wei-Chih Hsu, MD, Section of Neurology, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, for his assistance in statistical analysis. Also, we thank Chikao Yutani, MD, Director, Department of Pathology, for his thoughtful suggestions in preparing this report.

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This work was supported by the Grant for Cardiovascular Diseases from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.

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