Rejection in Liver Transplantation

One hundred four liver transplant recipients were retrospectively reviewed for the incidence of liver allograft rejection, the response to antirejection therapy and the impact of rejection on graft and patient survival. Liver biopsies were performed weekly during episodes of graft dysfunction and to follow response to treatment. Baseline immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporine and low–dose prednisolone. Rejection was treated with steroids and with OKT3 as rescue. Azathioprine was given to patients with preoperative or perioperative renal insufficiency and was added to patients' treatment after the first sign of rejection. Seven complications were observed in approximately 1,100 liver biopsies, only one necessitating surgery. We found that 39.4% of the patients never experienced acute rejection, and 60.6% had at least one episode of acute rejection. Overall, 42.3% of the patients had only one episode of acute rejection, 13.5% had two, 3.8% had three and 1% had five episodes of acute rejection. Sixty of 63 first acute rejection episodes occurred within 21 days of transplant. Primary disease, sex or patient age had no significant influence on the incidence of rejection. There was a lower incidence of rejection (p < 0.005) in patients transplanted after October, 1986, despite lower mean cyclosporine levels. Mean cyclosporine level during the first postoperative month was 679 ng per ml vs. a mean level of 910 ng per ml prior to October, 1986, when the immunosuppressive protocol was altered. Antirejection therapy was very effective in that only two of the 63 patients had graft failure due to acute rejection. Both of these patients were subsequently retransplanted. One patient died directly as a result of the acute rejection. In six patients (4.8%), chronic rejection was diagnosed, 29 to 545 days after transplantation. Two of these patients never had previous acute rejection but had suffered severe viral infections. Four of the six chronic rejection patients had primary sclerosing cholangitis as their primary disease. One patient underwent a suspected hyperacute rejection and was successfully retransplanted. We conclude that rejection is a major cause for morbidity after liver transplantation but is presently only a minor cause for mortality. The importance of the primary disease and viral infections in the development of chronic rejection needs further study.