Author/Authors :
Chiu، نويسنده , , Chiung-Zuan and Nakatani، نويسنده , , Satoshi and Zhang، نويسنده , , Guican and Tachibana، نويسنده , , Teruo and Ohmori، نويسنده , , Fumio and Yamagishi، نويسنده , , Masakazu and Kitakaze، نويسنده , , Masafumi and Tomoike، نويسنده , , Hitonobu and Miyatake، نويسنده , , Kunio، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
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.
