Cardiac Sarcoidosis Clinic

The Sussex Cardiac Sarcoidosis Clinic

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition caused by the abnormal activation of the immune system, leading to clumps of immune cells (called “granulomas”) being deposited in the body organs. Cardiac sarcoidosis occurs if the sarcoidosis condition affects the heart. Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis can develop a number of potentially serious complications, such as advanced heart block, heart failure and life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances. Cardiac sarcoidosis is also an important cause of sudden cardiac death, especially in younger patients, which may be prevented. Patients can experience a range of symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pains and palpitation, or have no symptoms at all. Making an early diagnosis of this condition is very important in ensuring that it is treated successfully.

This clinic specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. Since sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic disease (can affect many organs in addition to the heart), we work in collaboration with colleagues from wider specialties (such as respiratory medicine, rheumatology, nuclear medicine and cardiac imaging), as well as with colleagues within the cardiology speciality, via a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) based approach.

When to refer to the clinic

Patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis should be referred to the clinic for further assessment, for instance:

Patients with a known diagnosis of extra-cardiac sarcoidosis who develops cardiac sounding symptoms (e.g. breathlessness or palpitations) or abnormalities on heart tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiography (ultrasound heart scan).

In young or otherwise well patients who presents with a new diagnosis of advanced heart block, ventricular arrhythmias or heart failure which cannot be explained by another cause.

Patients with a known diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (whether active or inactive) should also be referred to the clinic for continued specialist follow-up and management. This is because the condition can “wax and wane” and potentially reactivate later even after successful treatment.

How to refer

Clinicians can refer to the Cardiac Sarcoidosis clinic via the referral form. The completed form should then be attached with the eRS referral to the Sussex Cardiac Sarcoidosis clinic.

What happens at your appointment

The first clinic appointment is aimed to allow the doctors to make the initial assessment. Normally, some tests have already been performed by your referring doctor prior to this appointment, for example, ECG, echocardiogram or holter (ECG monitor). Based on the clinical assessment, the doctor will decide on whether further tests are required, if so, which tests to recommend.

The diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis is usually made based on a combination of clinical information and advanced cardiac imaging tests (e.g. cardiac MRI and PET scans). Subsequent follow-up appointments may be required to review the results of tests and carry out further management.

Where we are

The Sussex Cardiac Sarcoidosis Clinic is currently run over two hospital sites: the Lewes Victoria Hospital (Lewes) and the Royal Sussex County Hospital (Brighton). The clinic is part of the University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Meet the team

The Cardiac Sarcoidosis service is supported by a wider team of experts within the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. We work closely with colleagues from the heart function specialist nursing team, the wider cardiology team, the respiratory and nuclear medicine teams, to provide MDT based care to our patients.  

Our Specialist Consultants

• Dr Alexander Liu (Sussex Cardiac Sarcoidosis Service Lead)
• Dr Raj Selvaraju (Associate Specialist)