Registry for Sarcoid Heart Disease

To the Editor.—  We herein propose to establish a national registry for sarcoid heart disease. Sarcoidosis is, of course, not an uncommon disease. It has been estimated to occur in one to four per 10,000 young adults,¹ and it was found in 24 of 10,000 autopsies in Japan.² Cardiac sarcoidosis is an illness occurring preponderantly in young adults, and its prognosis is thought to be grave. Its manifestations include conduction disturbances, paroxysmal arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Because overt sarcoid heart disease is rare, its response to corticosteroids remains anecdotal and speculative. Thus, a national sarcoid heart disease registry is needed to assess the magnitude of the problem, to determine the response of these patients to corticosteroids or other forms of treatment, and to offer, via the referring physician, other modalities of treatment, as they become available. Additionally, to further in vitro research on sarcoid heart disease, it