[Morphologic features of the liver in sarcoidosis]

Granulomatous hepatitis with non-caseous epithelioid-cell granulomas (43 cases, 86%) and non-specific reactive hepatitis (7 cases, 14%) were observed in liver biopsies of 50 patients with sarcoidosis. Three types of granulomas are distinguished: macrophagal, florid and fading epithelioid-cell granulomas which are consequent stages of the granuloma transformation. Fibrosis arises in the macrophagal granuloma, is increasing in both epithelioid-cell granulomas and is ended by a formation of a small scar. Nonspecific liver changes were also found (hydropic and fat hepatocyte degeneration, hypertrophy and proliferation of the stellate reticulo-endotheliocytes, sinuses capillarization, lymphoid-histiocytic infiltration of the intralobular stroma and portal tract, step-like necrosis which are probably induced by the action of the sarcoidosis unknown etiological factor.