We report the case of a 27-year-old previously healthy multiparous bla
ck woman who developed congestive heart failure 5 days postpartum. It
was initially diagnosed and treated as idiopathic peripartum cardiomyo
pathy. Five weeks later, pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed by transb
ronchial biopsy specimen, and steroid therapy was begun. An endomyocar
dial biopsy specimen 1 month later indicated cardiac sarcoidosis. She
responded well to steroid therapy; however, 16 months later, she had a
cardiac arrest and died. Autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac s
arcoidosis.