Prognostic Value of Cardiac MRI and FDG PET in Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: There is no consensus regarding the relative prognostic value of cardiac MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET in cardiac sarcoidosis. Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prognostic value of cardiac MRI and FDG PET for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in cardiac sarcoidosis. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, MEDLINE, Ovid Epub, CENTRAL, Embase, Emcare, and Scopus were searched from inception until January 2022. Studies that evaluated the prognostic value of cardiac MRI or FDG PET in adults with cardiac sarcoidosis were included. The primary outcome of MACE was assessed as a composite including death, ventricular arrhythmia, and heart failure hospitalization. Summary metrics were obtained using random-effects meta-analysis. Meta-regression was used to assess covariates. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognostic Studies, or QUIPS, tool. Results: Thirty-seven studies were included (3489 patients with mean follow-up of 3.1 years +/- 1.5 [SD]); 29 studies evaluated MRI (2931 patients) and 17 evaluated FDG PET (1243 patients). Five studies directly compared MRI and PET in the same patients (276 patients). Left ventricular late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) at MRI and FDG uptake at PET were both predictive of MACE (odds ratio [OR], 8.0 [95% CI: 4.3, 15.0] [P < .001] and 2.1 [95% CI: 1.4, 3.2] [P < .001], respectively). At meta-regression, results varied by modality (P = .006). LGE (OR, 10.4 [95% CI: 3.5, 30.5]; P < .001) was also predictive of MACE when restricted to stud-ies with direct comparison, whereas FDG uptake (OR, 1.9 [95% CI: 0.82, 4.4]; P = .13) was not. Right ventricular LGE and FDG uptake were also associated with MACE (OR, 13.1 [95% CI: 5.2, 33] [P < .001] and 4.1 [95% CI: 1.9, 8.9] [P < .001], respectively). Thirty-two studies were at risk for bias. Conclusion: Left and right ventricular late gadolinium enhancement at cardiac MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose uptake at PET were predictive of major adverse cardiac events in cardiac sarcoidosis. Limitations include few studies with direct comparison and risk of bias.

Automated summary

There is no consensus on the prognostic value of cardiac MRI and FDG PET in cardiac sarcoidosis. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that left and right ventricular late gadolinium enhancement at cardiac MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose uptake at PET were predictive of major adverse cardiac events in cardiac sarcoidosis.