title: Ductopenia related liver sarcoidosis.
abstract: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease which may involve many organs. In approximately 95% of patients there is liver involvement, with noncaseating hepatic granulomas occurring in 21 to 99% of patients with sarcoidosis. Liver involvement is usually asymptomatic and limited to mild to moderate abnormalities in liver biochemistry. The occurrence of jaundice in sarcoidosis is rare; extensive imaging procedures and the examination of liver biopsies permit a precise diagnostic. Ductopenia associated with sarcoidosis has been reported in less than 20 cases and can lead to biliary cirrhosis and liver- related death. We report here on a case of ductopenia-related sarcoidosis in which primary biliary cirrhosis and extrahepatic cholestasis have been carefully excluded. The patient follow up was 8 years. Although ursodesoxycholic acid appears to improve liver biochemistry it does not preclude the rapid occurrence of extensive fibrosis. A review of the literature of reported cases of ductopenia related to sarcoidosis is provided.
authors.affiliation: Nourr-Eddine Farouj, Ali Mofredj, Intensive Care Department, Centre Hospitalier Laënnec BP 72 60100 Creil, France.
authors.forename: Nourr-Eddine
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Farouj
authors.forename: Jean-François D
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cadranel
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mofredj
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jouannaud
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahmiri
authors.forename: Pierre Le
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lann
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cazier