Characteristics, Predictors, and Outcomes of Patients with Positive Endomyocardial Biopsy in Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Researchers at Juntendo University have identified key predictors for positive endomyocardial biopsy results in Japanese patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. By analyzing data from 246 patients in the ILLUMINATE-CS multicenter registry, the study found that basal interventricular septal thickness, the number of 18F-FDG PET positive segments, and BNP levels serve as independent predictors. The findings demonstrate that patients with higher values across these three routine clinical metrics have a higher probability of yielding positive biopsy results. This discovery enables safer and more efficient diagnostic pathways by allowing physicians to better select appropriate candidates for invasive biopsies. The research was published online in the Journal of Cardiac Failure on May 12, 2026.