Detection of cardiac sarcoidosis using cardiac markers and myocardial integrated backscatter

It is not known whether cardiac markers and cyclic variations of integrated backscatter can be used to detect cardiac sarcoidosis. We studied 62 patients with sarcoidosis affecting the lung, eyes, skin, or heart (27 patients with cardiac involvement and 35 patients without). The cyclic variation of integrated backscatter and wall thickening was evaluated in the left ventricular anterior septum and posterior wall. Plasma A-type natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations and serum cardiac troponin T were also determined. Plasma natriuretic peptide concentrations were higher in the cardiac involvement group (ANP: 15.5 [interquartile range (IQR) 2.5–34.0] vs. 12.0 [10.0–16.5] pg/ml, P=0.25; BNP: 28.6 [5.9–141] vs. 10.1 [4.8–15.4] pg/ml, P=0.049). However, cardiac troponin T concentration was