Sarcoidosis and liver.

During systemic sarcoidosis, the liver is involved in about 66% of cases, u sually clinically silent. The laboratory abnormalities include hypergammagl obulinemia and moderate increases in serum alkaline phosphatase activity; I maging findings are extremely rare. As in the other organs, Liver sarcoidos is is characterized histopathologically by epithelioid, typically noncaseat ing granulomas generally scattered widely, but many tend to be portal or pe riportal, In rare instances, liver sarcoidosis is complicated by portal hyp ertension or chronic cholestasis. Corticosteroids are the main treatment, i ndicated in case of symptomatic liver involvement and/or in case of extensi ve liver fibrosis. When portal hypertension is developed, specific treatmen t of esophageal varices is required.