Hepatic sarcoidosis

• Main Authors: Alexandras Karagiannidis, Maria Karavalaki, Anastasios Koulaouzidis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2006-10-01
• Series: Annals of Hepatology
• Subjects: Liver granuloma; idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis; cholestasis; hepatic sarcoidosis; liver sarcoid
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268119319830

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown aetiology. Histological evidence of non-caseating granulomas represents the main finding. It affects mostly young people, targeting primary the lung and hilar lymph nodes although liver involvement is often encountered. Hepatic sarcoidosis covers a broad spectrum from asymptomatic hepatic granulomas formation and slightly deranged liver function tests to clinically evident disease with cholestasis or, in advanced cases, cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Other granulomatous diseases (mainly systemic infections like tuberculosis) should be excluded prior to treatment, as longstanding corticosteroid administration is the main stem of therapy. In advanced cases, liver transplantation represents the ultimate therapeutic option.