Hemorrhagic Shock from Acute Variceal Bleeding Caused by Sarcoidosis: A Case Report

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown etiology, characterized by noncaseating granulomas. Generally, the condition primarily manifests in the lungs. Extrapulmonary involvement is common, but localization in the gastrointestinal system is rare. Here, we present the case of a 37-year-old male who became increasingly hemodynamically unstable during the diagnostic workup for sarcoidosis due to acute variceal bleeding. The underlying mechanism was later attributed to portal hypertension caused by hepatic involvement of the disease. This case demonstrates the importance of considering variceal hemorrhage as a rare but life-threatening complication of gastrointestinal localization of sarcoidosis.

Keywords

• extrapulmonary sarcoidosis
• upper gastrointestinal tract
• portal hypertension
• sarcoidosis
• shock
• variceal bleeding