CardioVascular Center

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition of unknown cause that can affect many areas of the body, including the heart, lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin. Sarcoidosis is characterized by the inflammatory cells that clump together forming collections called granulomas. It is thought that these granulomas may be an immune response to a trigger such as an infection or a protein either from self or from the environment, in individuals who are genetically predisposed. Sometimes the condition can affect several people within a family. 

Signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis depend on the organ affected. When the heart is affected, patients may present with:

• shortness of breath,
• fluid retention,
• dizziness,
• or fainting.

The underlying reason for these symptoms can be weakness of heart pumping function, a block in the electrical conduction of the heart, or a fast electrical rhythm called ventricular tachycardia. Other symptoms experienced by patients with sarcoidosis include cough, wheezing or shortness of breath when the lungs are involved, enlarged lymph nodes or skin rashes, blurred vision, pain, or redness of the eye, numbness or tingling when nerves are involved, or swollen joints.

Diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based partly on recognition of these signs and symptoms and partly on tests of the heart or other affected organ. A myocardial FDG/PET scan is a special nuclear scan that can show active inflammation from sarcoidosis and can be very useful both in diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis and monitoring response to treatments. Please click here for the instructions when preparing for a myocardial sarcoid FDG/PET scan. Other heart tests that may be of use include an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, a heart rhythm monitor, or a cardiac MRI scan. Blood tests are often taken to monitor organ function, but there is no one blood test that can diagnose sarcoidosis. It is often very useful to biopsy either an enlarged lymph node or heart tissue to confirm the diagnosis of sarcoidosis before starting treatment. Because of the multi-organ nature of sarcoidosis, patients with cardiac sarcoidosis are ideally cared for by a team of doctors including heart, lung, rheumatology and imaging specialists. 

In some patients with sarcoidosis, the inflammation resolves without any treatment. In patients with active heart inflammation causing cardiac sarcoidosis symptoms, anti-inflammatory treatment is often recommended. Treatment options can include steroids (such as prednisone), methotrexate, or intravenous infusions such as infliximab (also known as Remicaide®).

What resources are there for patients with Cardiac Sarcoidosis at Tufts Medical Center?

At Tufts Medical Center, we have a team of physicians with a special interest in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis, including an electrophysiologist, a heart failure cardiologist, a pulmonologist, a rheumatologist and a radiologist with FDG/PET expertize. We meet as a team to coordinate the evaluation and treatment of patients with sarcoidosis. For patients who require an intravenous medication such as infliximab, we coordinate with the infusion clinic in the Division of Rheumatology. We participate in multi-center cardiac sarcoidosis research projects and stay at the forefront of advances in cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis and treatment. 

Request Appointment for Amanda Vest, MBBS, MPH

Amanda Vest, MBBS, MPH

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Accepting New Patients

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Title(s): Director, Advanced HF Program; Medical Director, Cardiac Transplantation Program; Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, CardioVascular Center, Cardiology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-8068
Fax #: 617-636-6030

Cardiology, heart failure, cardiomyopathies (including cardiac amyloidosis, sarcoidosis) heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, pregnancy and heart disease (including peripartum cardiomyopathy)

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Request Appointment for Steven C. Vlad, MD, PhD

Steven C. Vlad, MD, PhD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Online Scheduling Available

Title(s): Rheumatologist; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-5990
Fax #: 617-636-2388

General rheumatology, spondyloarthropathies, psoriatic arthritis and anklylosing spondylitis

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Request Appointment for Christina Anderlind, MD

Christina Anderlind, MD

Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Medical Director, Interstitial Lung Disease and Sarcoidosis Center; Associate Director, Mycobacteria clinic
Department(s): Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6377
Fax #: 617-636-1649

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, ILD associated with rheumatic diseases, Eosinophilic Pneumonia, Organizing Pneumonia, Post-COVID inflammatory and fibrotic lung disease, Granulomatous Diseases, Sarcoidosis, Cystic lung diseases, tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections, Computational Biomedicine

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Barry L. Fanburg, MD

Title(s): Director, Pulmonary Research; Pulmonary Attending Physician; Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6377
Fax #: 617-636-1649

Sarcoidosis, chronic pulmonary disease, emphysema, pulmonary diagnostic problems, cough, asthma, X-ray abnormalities, lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

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To refer a patient and schedule an initial consultation, please call 617-636-8068 and select option 3 for Dr. Vest's office.