[Liver involvement in sarcoidosis: study of seven cases]

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of unknown aetiology that may involve many organs including the liver.

This is a monocentre retrospective and descriptive study over 12 years of patients with systemic sarcoidosis who presented with liver involvement.

Amongst 21 patients with systemic sarcoidosis, seven presented a liver involvement (five males and two females; mean age 42.5 years). The liver involvement was the presenting manifestation in three. Liver enlargement was noted in five patients and abnormal liver function tests in four. In one patient, abdominal computed tomographic scan showed a nodular hepatomegaly. Liver histology demonstrated typical granulomatous lesions in six. One patient developed a Budd-Chiari syndrome that responded favourably to corticosteroids. Six out of the seven patients were treated with corticosteroids.

Liver involvement in common in sarcoidosis and commonly asymptomatic. Treatment is not systematic.