SARCOIDOSIS OF THE LIVER

There are many causes of granulomas of the liver including infections, immunological aberrations, enzyme defects, drugs and other chemicals, and neoplasia (Table I). The commonest causes are tuberculosis, sarco idosis, schistosomiasis and intrinsic liver disease. About 10 per cent of granulomas remain unidentified. In sarcoidosis, liver granulomas a re usually inconspicuous and featureless. They are not associated with symptoms or abnormal physical signs. Sarcoidosis of the liver has thr ee well-recognised clinical syndromes - chronic intrahepatic cholestas is, portal hypertension and the Budd-Chiari Syndrome.