Introduction: The morphology of the donor graft and of the post-transplant period are important in the follow-up and management of liver transplanted patients. Objective: Analyse the morphological findings of the liver graft in post-reperfusional biopsies (time zero) and in biopsies taken three to 15 days after transplantation. Materials and methods: Ninety six (96) biopsies of forty eight (48) patients were selected for being performed in time zero (after reperfusion) and in the period between the 3rd and the 15th day after transplantation, with identification of degenerative findings, necrosis and inflamatory activity. The post-transplantation specimens were also graduated using the Rejection Activity Index (RAI), according to the Banff consensus. Results: The most common findings in time-zero biopsies were discrete hepatocyte ballooning (up to 50% of hepatocytes) in 87.5% of cases and intralobular focal necrosis (lytic, apoptosis) seen in 75% of the patients. In biopsies taken after transplantation mild hepatocyte ballooning was also seen in 87.5% of the cases. Acute rejection was seen in 38 (79.2%) of these biopsies. Moderate (2) and intense (3) bile-duct damage was present in 42.10% of the post-transplant biopsies with acute rejection, while portal endotelialitis at the same degree of intensity was present in 21.05% of these cases. Conclusion: Our findings reveal preservation related findings ("harvesting") in time zero biopsies. Acute rejection was seen in most cases of post-transplant specimens, according to the literature, with emphasis to the intensity of bile-duct damage.
Liver transplantation; Acute rejection; Portal endothelialitis; Bile-duct damage
