Abstract 12715: Can 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake Stratify the Risk of the Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis After Initiation of Immunosuppressive Therapy?

Introduction: While 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is well-established for diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) initially, its potential as a risk stratification tool for patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy remains controversial.

Hypothesis: We aim to assess the prognostic value of FDG-PET in CS patients after 12 months of corticosteroid treatment.

Methods: Our study consists of a retrospective review of clinical data and patient outcomes of stable CS cases that underwent FDG-PET following 12 months of corticosteroid treatment initiation. We excluded patients in the previous six months who had a heart failure hospitalization, sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF), recent pacemaker implantation or upgrade, changes in corticosteroid dosage, or newly introduced additional immunosuppressive therapy. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) include a composite of cardiac death, onset of SVT/VF, appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator intervention, heart failure hospitalization, and cardiac functional deterioration.

Results: Among the 72 analyzed patients, 35 exhibited cardiac accumulation in FDG-PET scans. Over an average of 49 (22-76) months, 19 patients experienced MACE. The occurrence of MACE was higher in the reduced left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) group (<50%) than in the preserved LVEF group (≥50%) (51.5% vs. 5.1%, Log rank p <0.001). Similarly, MACE was more common in the SVT/VF (+) group as compared to the SVT/VF (-) group (50.0% vs. 23.4%, Log rank p =0.041). However, the presence of cardiac accumulation in FDG-PET showed no significant correlation (Log rank p =0.718).

Conclusions: The presence of residual cardiac accumulation after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy was not associated with the prognosis of the patients with CS. Established predictors, such as reduced LVEF and the occurrence of SVT/VF, remain integral in predicting MACE.