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Pathology of
 
Liver Transplantation

 

 

Nermine A. Ehsan 

Assistant Professor of  Pathology

National  Liver Institute            

Menoufiya University

 

 

Historical Overview.-

v, 1967Starzl et al., carried out the first successful human liver transplant -

vResults were poor: Fewer than 30% survived more than 1year. Subsequent improvements in preservation of donor organs, surgical techniques and immunosuppressive therapy, led to 80% survival more than 1year

vNational Liver Institute: real solid steps began on 2001 -

 

Indications for LT in Adults.-

v Chronic liver diseases (70-80%): Cirrhotic liver, Autoimmune liver diseases, Metabolic liver diseases

Acute hepatic-failure (5-15%): Acute/subacute nonA nonB nonC hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis A, B or E, paracetamol toxicity (other drug), Wilson’s disease (acute presentation)

 Malignancy : HCC, cholangiocarcinoma

 Liver metabolic defect without liver disease: primary hyperoxaluria, familial amyloid polyneuropathy

 

Indications for LT in Children.-

 Chronic liver diseases (75-80%) EHBA (failure of portoenterostomy), A1ATD, cystic fibrosis, Alagille syndrome, hereditary tyrosinaemia, AIH, sclerosing cholangitis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, Wilson’s ds., PFIHC

 Acute hepatic-failure (9-17%): Acute/subacute nonA nonB nonC hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis A, paracetamol toxicity (other drug), Wilson’s disease (acute presentation)

 Malignancy (<4%): hepatoblastoma, others

Pathological Assessment in LT.-

Examination of native liver removed at operation -

Confirm clinic pathological diagnosis

Provide a better understanding of the way which liver diseases are distributed within the liver

Time zero biopsy: from donor liver immediately after reperfusion -

   pre-existing disease in the donor liver

identify changes related to organ preservation and reperfusion

Pathological Assessment in LT.-

First month -

Preservation/reperfusion injury   

Ischaemia   

Rejection   

 1-12months -

   Biliary complications   

Opportunistic infection   

Recuurrent  disease   

Types of Rejection.-

Hyperacute (humoral) Rejection -

Acute (Cellular) Rejection -

Chronic (ductopenic) Rejection-

Hyperacute Rejection.-

Definition: graft dysfunction and failure occurring immediately after reperfusion in a recipient with performed anti-donor antibodies

Incidence: 33% with incompatible ABO, Occasionally with compatible ABO

Clinical features: initial period of stable graft function (up to 2 weeks), followed by rise in serum aminotransferases, prolonged prothrombin time, signs of acute kiver failure, indirect signs of humoral mediated injury

Immunosuppressive therapy is ineffective

Urgent re-transplantation is indicated

Hyperacute Rejection.-

Histological features

Deposition  of fibrin, platelets, neutrophils & RBCs in small vessels and sinusoids

Endothelial injury: neutrophilic exudation, congestion, coagulative hepatocyte necrosis

Diffuse massive haemorrhagic necrosis

Lack of lymphocytic infiltrate

Deposition of immunoglobulins, complement and fibrinogen in vascular & sinusoidal endothelium

Hyperacute rejection.-

Massive haemorrhagic necrosis

DD of Hyperacute Rejection.-

Preexisting donor lesion (severe fatty change

Preservation reperfusion injury

Non humoral factors which have been postulated in graft failure: gram –ve sepsis, opportunistic viral infection ( herpes simplex, herpes zoster, adenovirus, enterovirus

 

Acute Rejection.-

Definition: Immune-mediated damage to the liver allograft characterized by cellular infiltrate, damage to bile ducts & vascular structures

Incidence:  Clinically: 20-50%; Histologically: 80% end of first week following transplantation

Clinical features: pyrexia, graft enlargement, tenderness, reduced bile flow

 

Histological Features of AR .-

Diagnostic triad:

Portal inflammation: T cell, activated blast cell, macrophage, neutrophil, eosinophil

Bile duct damage

Venular endothelial inflammation: portal & hepatic

Grading of AR:

Grade I (mild

Grade II (moderate

Grade III (severe

 

Chronic Rejection.-

vDefinition:  immune-mediated damage to the liver allograft which is characterized histologically by 2 main features loss of small bile ducts and an obliterative vasculopathy affecting large and medium sized arteries

Incidence 2-20%

Risk factors: donor/recipient factors; transplantation for AIH liver, sex mismatching of donor to recipient  post-transplantation factors; related to acute rejection, including the number of episodes, severity, late presentation, other infections, hepatitis B,C, interferon therapy for viral hepatitis

 

Banff scheme for staging chronic rejection .-

Early CR vs Late CR

Small bile ducts: degenerative changes, 50% loss

Terminal hepatic venules: intimal/medial inflammation, perivenular necrosis & inflammation

Portal tract hepatic arteriole; occasional loss 25%

Other: transition hepatitis with spotty necrosis

Large perihilar hepatic artery branches: intimal infiltrate, focal foam cell deposition

Large perihilar bile ducts: inflammatory damage and focal foam cell deposition

 

DD of Chronic Rejection.-

Recurrent viral hepatitis

Recurrent biliary disease

Ischaemic cholangiopathy

DD of perivenular lesions:

Vascular problems (hepatic veno-occlusive lesions

Viral hepatitis, AIH, Drug toxicity

 

Targets for immune damage in Acute and chronic rejection   

Bile ducts

Vascular endothelial cells

Hepatocytes

Kupffer cells

 

Immunopathogenesis of AR & CR .-

Afferent arm:

presentation of graft alloantigens and the recognition of these antigens by recipient T cells

Phase of T cell activation:

cytokine release, autocrine and paracrine effect on target cells

Efferent arm:

recruitment and activation of effector cells which mediate damage to target structures within the allograft

Complications of Liver Transplantation .-

Infection:

viral: CMV, EBV, opportunistic viruses,    Hepatitis B, C virus

  Bacterial: gram negative sepsis

    fungal: aspergillus and candida

Vascular problems

Biliary complications

Disease recurrence