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Sinnanaidu RP, Kumar VC, Shunmugam RH, Mahadeva S. The clinical management of hepatic sarcoidosis: A systematic review. JGH Open 2024; 8:e13076. [PMID: 38903487 PMCID: PMC11187478 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.13076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Background Hepatic sarcoidosis is an uncommon clinical condition in which clear recommendations are lacking in its treatment. We aimed to review systematically the literature on hepatic sarcoidosis treatment to guide clinicians. Methods Using MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases, we searched original articles on clinical studies reporting the outcome of adult hepatic sarcoidosis patients following treatment with various pharmacological agents. The primary end point was focused on assessing symptomatic relief and biochemical improvement posttreatment. Results Out of 614 retrieved references, 34 published studies were eligible, providing data for a total of 268 patients with hepatic sarcoidosis. First-line therapy with corticosteroids alone was reported in 187 patients, whilst ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was used in 40 patients. Symptomatic and biochemical responses were reported among 113(60.4%) and 80(42.8%) cases of corticosteroids respectively, whereas UDCA showed a complete response in 23(57.5%) patients. Second-line therapy was used in steroid-refractory cases, with most cases being reported for azathioprine (n = 32) and methotrexate (n = 28). Notably, 15(46.9%) and 11(39.2%) patients showed both clinical and biochemical responses respectively. Biological therapy including anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) was used as third line therapy in twelve cases with a 72.7% symptomatic and biochemical response rate each. Conclusion The quality of evidence for the treatment of hepatic sarcoidosis was poor. Nevertheless, it appears that corticosteroid or UDCA may be utilized as first-line therapy. For cases that are refractory to corticosteroids, steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents and anti-TNF have shown some promising results, but further high-quality studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Prasad Sinnanaidu
- Gastroenterology Unit, Medical DepartmentUniversiti Malaya Medical CentreKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | | | - Ranita Hisham Shunmugam
- Department of Library & Information Science, Faculty of Arts & Social SciencesUniversiti MalayaKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Sanjiv Mahadeva
- Gastroenterology Unit, Medical DepartmentUniversiti Malaya Medical CentreKuala LumpurMalaysia
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Ahmed R, Najam N, Ramphul K, Mactaggart S, Dulay MS, Okafor J, Azzu A, Bilal M, Memon RA, Sakthivel H, Khattar R, Wells AU, Baksi JA, Wechalekar K, Kouranos V, Chahal A, Sharma R. Characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with sarcoidosis admitted for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the United States: a propensity matched analysis from the National Inpatient Sample. Arch Med Sci Atheroscler Dis 2024; 9:e47-e55. [PMID: 38846054 PMCID: PMC11155460 DOI: 10.5114/amsad/184701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterised by non-caseating granulomas. Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) normally causes conduction abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias, and heart failure. Little is known about the characteristics and impact of sarcoidosis in patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aims to fill this void. Material and methods Utilising the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2016-2020), individuals with STEMI were identified and categorised based on sarcoidosis presence whilst adjusting for confounders via logistic regression models. Results Among 851,290 STEMI patients, 1215 had sarcoidosis. Before propensity matching, sarcoidosis patients were notably different in demographics and comorbidities compared to non-sarcoidosis patients. After propensity score matching (PSM), sarcoidosis patients were found to have a higher incidence of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) (2.5% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.024) and acute kidney injury (AKI) (23.3% vs. 20.8%, aOR = 1.269, 95% CI: 1.02-1.58, p = 0.033) but a lower incidence of undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (5.5% vs. 8.5%, aOR = 0.663; 95% CI: 0.472-0.931, p = 0.018), while no significant disparities were noted in PCI, cardiogenic shock, mortality, or mean length of stay (LOS). Conclusions Using propensity-matched large real-world data of STEMI patients, sarcoidosis was associated with fewer cases of CABG and a greater incidence of AKI and SVT compared to non-sarcoidosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raheel Ahmed
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Noem Najam
- Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Sebastian Mactaggart
- Northumbria Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Joseph Okafor
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessia Azzu
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maham Bilal
- Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Rahat A Memon
- Abington Hosp-Jefferson Health, Horsham, United States
| | - Hemamalini Sakthivel
- One Brooklyn Health System/Interfaith Medical Ctr Program, Brooklyn, New York, United States
| | - Rajdeep Khattar
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Athol Umfrey Wells
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Arun Baksi
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kshama Wechalekar
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vasilis Kouranos
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anwar Chahal
- Department of Cardiology, Barts Heart Centre, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Wellspan Health, York, USA
| | - Rakesh Sharma
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a multi-organ inflammatory disease of unclear etiology. The hallmark of the disease is the formation of non-caseating granulomas. The prevalence of sarcoidosis is 5-30% in the general population and up to 80% in autopsy series. Hepatic involvement is seen in almost 50% of cases of sarcoidosis, though the clinical consequences are variable. In this study, we describe the case of three patients from our institution with hepatic sarcoidosis. Two of them eventually went on to develop liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ghoneim
- Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, USA
| | - Sherrie D Williams
- Internal Medicine: Pulmonology, Case Western Reserve University MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, USA
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De Mulder P, Maertens B, Hoorens A, Vonck A. Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis primarily presenting as cholestatic liver disease. BMJ Case Rep 2019; 12:12/12/e232618. [PMID: 31806633 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-232618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder associated with non-caseating granulomas in affected organs, most commonly the lungs. Involvement of extrapulmonary organs is common, but lack of pulmonary involvement is rare and is called non-pulmonary sarcoidosis (NPS). Like pulmonary sarcoidosis, a definitive diagnostic test for NPS does not exist. Instead, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis requires the following elements: clinical and radiographic manifestations of sarcoidosis, histopathological detection of non-caseating granulomas and the exclusion of other diseases that may present similarly. Because of the experience with corticosteroids in pulmonary sarcoidosis, they are generally considered first-line therapy for NPS too. Ursodeoxycholic acid can be used to reduce cholestasis in NPS, but is inferior to corticosteroids in reducing inflammation. We hereby present a case that is particularly notable for its rare presentation of NPS as a granulomatous hepatitis with cholestatic liver function tests.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne Hoorens
- Anatomopathology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - An Vonck
- Nephrology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint Blasius campus Dendermonde, Dendermonde, Belgium
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Abstract
Hepatic granulomas are a common finding in systemic sarcoidosis, but most patients remain asymptomatic. Elevated alkaline phosphatase is the most common sign of hepatic sarcoidosis (HS). Lacking a specific diagnostic test, the diagnosis of HS is one of exclusion. Therapy may be indicated in a minority of patients to control symptoms, but the effects of therapy in the natural history of HS are unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Kumar
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UCOM 6000, 75 University Boulevard South, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Jorge L Herrera
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UCOM 6000, 75 University Boulevard South, Mobile, AL 36688, USA.
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Syed U, Alkhawam H, Bakhit M, Companioni RAC, Walfish A. Hepatic sarcoidosis: pathogenesis, clinical context, and treatment options. Scand J Gastroenterol 2016; 51:1025-30. [PMID: 27175775 DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2016.1177856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is typically characterized as a non-caseating granulomatous disease that has the ability to affect multiple different organ systems. Although extra-thoracic sarcoidosis can occur in the presence and also without lung involvement, isolated extra-pulmonary disease is rare. The liver is the third most commonly affected organ system after the lungs and lymph nodes. When discussing hepatic sarcoidosis it is important to keep in mind that many patients in this population may not present as one would typically expect since most of the patients are asymptomatic or have mild presentations. Therefore, the diagnosis can be difficult at times since no single laboratory or imaging study can definitively diagnose this systemic disease. In the rare case of some patients where there is difficulty in discerning between different pathologies, the use of image-guided tissue biopsy may be necessary to establish a diagnosis. At the current time, there are no clear guidelines for the management of hepatic sarcoidosis and are mostly dependent on a patient's clinical status at time of presentation. The current body of research in regard to treatment suggests steroids to be the mainstay of therapy. However, there is a role for additional immunosuppressive therapy in cases where the initial treatment is refractory to steroids. In this manuscript, we discussed the pathogenesis of liver sarcoidosis and context of its presentation. In addition, the differential diagnosis and imaging evaluation in this population is discussed. Finally, treatment options are reviewed in setting of previous studies for liver sarcoidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Syed
- a Department of Medicine , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Elmhurst , NY , USA
| | - Hassan Alkhawam
- a Department of Medicine , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Elmhurst , NY , USA
| | - Mena Bakhit
- b Department of Medicine , Yale School of Medicine , CT , USA
| | | | - Aron Walfish
- c Department of Gastroenterology , Elmhurst Hospital Center , Elmhurst , NY , USA
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Modaresi Esfeh J, Culver D, Plesec T, John B. Clinical presentation and protocol for management of hepatic sarcoidosis. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015; 9:349-58. [PMID: 25473783 DOI: 10.1586/17474124.2015.958468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The liver is one of the most commonly involved extrapulmonary sites in sarcoidosis. Hepatic sarcoidosis has a broad range of presentations from scattered, asymptomatic noncaseating granulomas with normal liver enzymes, which are very common in patients with known pulmonary sarcoidosis, to portal hypertension and cirrhosis, which are relatively uncommon. Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical, laboratory and histological manifestations. The authors' protocol for management of patients with suspected sarcoidosis of the liver without focal lesions includes a transjugular liver biopsy with portal pressure measurements to confirm the diagnosis, rule out coexisting liver diseases and to identify select patients with fibrosis or portal hypertension for consideration of immunosuppression. Steroids and azathioprine are the preferred agents and methotrexate is not recommended.
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Tadros M, Forouhar F, Wu GY. Hepatic Sarcoidosis. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2013; 1:87-93. [PMID: 26357609 PMCID: PMC4521279 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2013.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2013] [Revised: 10/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by the presence of non-caseating granulomas in affected organs. Pulmonary involvement is the most common site of disease activity. However, hepatic involvement is also common in sarcoidosis, occurring in up to 70% of patients. Most patients with liver involvement are asymptomatic. Therefore, the majority of cases are discovered incidentally, frequently by the finding of elevated liver enzymes. Pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, fatigue, pruritus, and jaundice may be associated with liver involvement. Portal hypertension and cirrhosis are complications linked to long-standing hepatic sarcoidosis. Liver biopsy is usually required to confirm the diagnosis. It is important to differentiate hepatic sarcoidosis from other autoimmune and granulomatous liver diseases. Not all cases of hepatic sarcoidosis require treatment. For symptomatic patients, the first line treatment includes corticosteroids or ursodeoxycholic acid. Various immunosuppressant agents can be used as second line agents. Rarely, severe cases require liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheal Tadros
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Faripour Forouhar
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - George Y. Wu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Surveillance of hepatic involvement in sarcoidosis has not been standardized. Therefore, management of hepatic involvement is a clinical challenge. This review analyses published data on the pharmacological treatment of hepatic sarcoidosis. RECENT FINDINGS Only 5-30% of patients with hepatic sarcoidosis display symptoms. Occasionally, it has a rapid progressive course with serious complications, stressing an appropriate and carefully timed therapeutic approach. Because symptomatic hepatic sarcoidosis is uncommon, therapeutic studies are scarce. Answers to the questions when to initiate which treatment are lacking. Case reports describe beneficial effects of prednisone and the augmentation of cytotoxic and anti-tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) therapy. However, because of small sample sizes, no meaningful conclusions could be drawn. In symptomatic hepatic sarcoidosis patients, it is recommended to start to treat the sarcoidosis with prednisone, preceded by ursodeoxycholic acid when signs of cholestasis are present. In refractory cases or when prednisone weaning is impossible, cytotoxic drugs or anti-TNF-α therapy should be considered. SUMMARY This review illustrates the importance of an appropriate therapeutic approach of sarcoidosis patients with hepatic involvement. It emphasizes the need for future studies to evaluate treatment options to avoid disease progression and hepatic complications.
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Tan CB, Rashid S, Rajan D, Gebre W, Mustacchia P. Hepatic sarcoidosis presenting as portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis: case report and review of the literature. Case Rep Gastroenterol 2012; 6:183-9. [PMID: 22679408 PMCID: PMC3364039 DOI: 10.1159/000338355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown etiology, with the liver being the third most commonly affected organ. Most cases of hepatic sarcoidosis are not clinically apparent, but a few can progress to liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension and ultimately liver failure. The diagnosis of hepatic sarcoidosis is difficult, considering that no single laboratory test or radiographic finding can definitively diagnose this systemic disease. Diagnosis of hepatic sarcoidosis relies heavily on histopathologic evaluation of two or more organs, a diagnostic modality that is invasive and may not be applicable to all patients. The treatment of hepatic sarcoidosis is challenging, with no large randomized controlled trials done to date. Physicians must be aware of the complications of hepatic sarcoidosis, and must include the same in the differential diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. We present a case of hepatic sarcoidosis complicated by portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Tan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, N.Y., USA
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11
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Abstract
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas in the absence of other autoimmune processes, infectious diseases, or foreign agents. The etiology of sarcoidosis is not completely understood. Several organ systems can be affected, of which the most frequently involved include the lungs and lymph nodes. Intra-abdominal sarcoidosis is less common, but can be found in the absence of pulmonary or lymphatic disease. Intra-abdominal sarcoidosis is most often asymptomatic. However, long-standing unrecognized disease can result in life-threatening complications. The identification, monitoring and prevention of these complications will be discussed, with emphasis on both clinical and histological presentations of intra-abdominal sarcoidosis.
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