Intrahepatic bile duct destruction in a patient with sarcoidosis and chronic intrahepatic cholestasis.

An autopsy case of sarcoidosis with chronic intrahepatic cholestasis for 2 and a half years was presented. Generalized distribution of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas and positive Kveim test were consistent with sarcoidosis. Histological examination of the liver revealed extensive bile duct destruction similar to that seen in the liver of primary biliary cirrhosis. Destructive cholangitis found in the liver appeared to be responsible for long term intrahepatic cholestasis, and no sarcoid granulomas in the liver were found to destroy any bile duct. The possible relation in pathogenesis of the bile duct destruction between primary biliary cirrhosis and sarcoidosis was discussed.