Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) for Hepatic Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a relatively rare, poorly defined autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of sterile granulomas in affected organs, including the liver. The diagnosis of hepatic sarcoid is often presumed based upon an elevated liver-specific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase or imaging findings suggestive of portal hypertension, hepatomegaly, or liver lesions in a patient with known pulmonary sarcoidosis; a minority of hepatic sarcoid cases are diagnosed through liver biopsy. The mainstay of treatment of systemic sarcoidosis in those with symptoms is immunosuppression with corticosteroids, which are gradually tapered over months. The disease course for sarcoidosis can vary; patients who are asymptomatic can be monitored without therapy, while some require intermittent corticosteroids for flares. The expert guidelines for treatment of hepatic sarcoid suggest waiting until a patient is symptomatic or experiencing evidence of liver dysfunction to treat. This approach is in opposition to the treatment of primary liver diseases in which treatment is often initiated based upon abnormal lab values even without symptoms, as symptoms of liver disease (ascites, variceal bleeding, pruritus, jaundice, and encephalopathy) often occur late in the disease. The approach to the treatment of hepatic sarcoid should be similar to two other autoimmune liver diseases: autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Liver decompensation can be prevented in both AIH and PBC if the disease is diagnosed and treated in the early stages. The first-line treatment for AIH is immunosuppression with corticosteroids and azathioprine; for PBC, it is Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In a similar vein, patients with hepatic sarcoid may benefit from earlier initiation of therapy. Given its excellent safety profile and minimal side effects, UDCA may be the consensus first-line treatment for hepatic sarcoid, a disease that, like PBC, usually causes a cholestatic liver injury. There have been case reports and retrospective studies documenting the beneficial effects of UDCA on hepatic sarcoid. However, thus far, there have been no clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of UDCA in hepatic sarcoid. This pilot study will examine the effects of UDCA in a small sample of patients at the University of Pennsylvania. Patients with a prior diagnosis of sarcoidosis and lab/imaging findings suggestive of hepatic sarcoid would be approached. The primary endpoint is a reduction in alkaline phosphatase from baseline. Secondary endpoints include safety and tolerability of UDCA, new or worsening symptoms of hepatic sarcoidosis and liver disease, changes in bilirubin and transaminases, and liver stiffness as measured by Fibroscan. A minimum of ten patients will be enrolled for a twelve-month study with the total study time of two years. It is hypothesized that UDCA will lead to modest decreases in alkaline phosphatase levels in patients with hepatic sarcoid with minimal side effects. Overtime a long-term decline in alkaline phosphatase could decrease the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with hepatic sarcoid. As an exploratory objective and optional sub-study, the investigators will include the methacetin breath test (MBT), a noninvasive tool to assess microsomal capacity to metabolize the nonradioactive compound 13-Carbon-labeled Methacetin. The MBT will be used in parallel with clinical and laboratory parameters (Fibroscan, liver enzymes) to assess subjects liver function prior to and following intervention with UDCA. Changes in the methacetin breath tests in all subjects prior to and following intervention with UDCA will be examined as a secondary exploratory endpoint.