Hepatic Involvement in Systemic Sarcoidosis

Am J Case Rep. 2018 Oct 11:19:1212-1215. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.910600.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that can affect any organ, including the liver. It is manifested by the presence of non-caseating granulomas within involved organs, most commonly the pulmonary, lymphatic, and hepatic system. Unlike pulmonary or lymphatic involvement, hepatic involvement is usually asymptomatic and it is underdiagnosed. Here, we report a case of a patient with a history of pulmonary sarcoidosis who developed hepatic sarcoidosis. CASE REPORT 68-year-old female with pulmonary sarcoidosis with a 2-week history of severe abdominal pain and epigastric tenderness presented to our center. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated mild hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. A thorough workup was performed including a liver biopsy which showed chronic non-necrotizing granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. She was started on prednisone and subsequently improved. The patient was symptom-free on follow-up 1 month later. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients with hepatic sarcoidosis are usually asymptomatic, with only 5-30% presenting with abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and hepatosplenomegaly. In rare cases, hepatic sarcoidosis can lead to cholestasis, portal hypertension, cirrhosis, or Budd-Chiari syndrome. Treatment with steroids is the mainstay of therapy; however, in severe cases, patients may require liver transplantation. This case report demonstrates that hepatic sarcoidosis is a serious condition, and if not treated, can lead to portal hypertension and cirrhosis. In patients with sarcoidosis, early detection and longitudinal follow-up is important in preventing overt liver failure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Liver Diseases / drug therapy
  • Liver Diseases / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Sarcoidosis / complications*
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnosis
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisone