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Osawa I, Ide K, Sakamoto S, Uchida H, Fukuda A, Nishimura N, Haga C, Yoshioka T, Nosaka S, Nakagawa S, Kasahara M. Hematological and biochemical characteristics and diagnostic imaging results in acute T cell-mediated rejection after pediatric liver transplantation. Pediatr Transplant 2022; 26:e14161. [PMID: 34617637 DOI: 10.1111/petr.14161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing TCMR after LT. However, complications caused by liver biopsy may occur especially during the immediate post-transplantation period and other effective methods for predicting TCMR have not been established. Thus, we investigated whether hematological and biochemical characteristics and Doppler ultrasonography findings are associated with acute TCMR. METHODS A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the prognostic factors of acute TCMR, defined as a RAI ≥4. Then, a ROC curve analysis was conducted to evaluate for diagnostic performance. The relationship between prognostic factors and each histological category of RAI was investigated. RESULTS Eighty-nine liver biopsies were performed on 85 patients between January 2012 and December 2019. The RAI of 62 (69.7%) liver biopsies was ≥4. AEC (×104 /μl), direct bilirubin level (mg/dl), and MHVV (cm/s) were found to be associated with acute TCMR (OR: 4.96, 95% CI: 1.44-17.0, p = .011; OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.04-1.91, p = .025; OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08, p < .001, respectively). The area under the ROC curves for predicting acute TCMR was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78-0.94). There was a correlation between AEC, direct bilirubin level, and MHVV as well as the severity of RAI. CONCLUSIONS AEC, direct bilirubin level, and MHVV were the independent risk factors for acute TCMR. This study could provide information regarding the identification of patients requiring liver biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ichiro Osawa
- Critical Care Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ide
- Critical Care Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seisuke Sakamoto
- Organ Transplantation Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hajime Uchida
- Organ Transplantation Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akinari Fukuda
- Organ Transplantation Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nao Nishimura
- Critical Care Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chizuko Haga
- Department of Pathology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takako Yoshioka
- Department of Pathology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Nosaka
- Division of Radiology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakagawa
- Critical Care Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mureo Kasahara
- Organ Transplantation Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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Girolami I, Parwani A, Barresi V, Marletta S, Ammendola S, Stefanizzi L, Novelli L, Capitanio A, Brunelli M, Pantanowitz L, Eccher A. The Landscape of Digital Pathology in Transplantation: From the Beginning to the Virtual E-Slide. J Pathol Inform 2019; 10:21. [PMID: 31367473 PMCID: PMC6639852 DOI: 10.4103/jpi.jpi_27_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Digital pathology has progressed over the last two decades, with many clinical and nonclinical applications. Transplantation pathology is a highly specialized field in which the majority of practicing pathologists do not have sufficient expertise to handle critical needs. In this context, digital pathology has proven to be useful as it allows for timely access to expert second-opinion teleconsultation. The aim of this study was to review the experience of the application of digital pathology to the field of transplantation. Methods Papers on this topic were retrieved using PubMed as a search engine. Inclusion criteria were the presence of transplantation setting and the use of any type of digital image with or without the use of image analysis tools; the search was restricted to English language papers published in the 25 years until December 31, 2018. Results Literature regarding digital transplant pathology is mostly about the digital interpretation of posttransplant biopsies (75 vs. 19), with 15/75 (20%) articles focusing on agreement/reproducibility. Several papers concentrated on the correlation between biopsy features assessed by digital image analysis (DIA) and clinical outcome (45/75, 60%). Whole-slide imaging (WSI) only appeared in recent publications, starting from 2011 (13/75, 17.3%). Papers dealing with preimplantation biopsy are less numerous, the majority (13/19, 68.4%) of which focus on diagnostic agreement between digital microscopy and light microscopy (LM), with WSI technology being used in only a small quota of papers (4/19, 21.1%). Conclusions Overall, published studies show good concordance between digital microscopy and LM modalities for diagnosis. DIA has the potential to increase diagnostic reproducibility and facilitate the identification and quantification of histological parameters. Thus, with advancing technology such as faster scanning times, better image resolution, and novel image algorithms, it is likely that WSI will eventually replace LM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Girolami
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anil Parwani
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Valeria Barresi
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Marletta
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Serena Ammendola
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lavinia Stefanizzi
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Novelli
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Histopathology and Molecular Diagnosis, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Arrigo Capitanio
- Department of Clinical Pathology, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Liron Pantanowitz
- Department of Pathology, UPMC Shadyside Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Albino Eccher
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Kumar S, Mohapatra N, Borle DP, Choudhury A, Sarin S, Gupta E. Non invasive diagnosis of acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation - Current opinion. Transpl Immunol 2018; 47:1-9. [PMID: 29452168 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Senthil Kumar
- Dept of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi 70, India.
| | - Nihar Mohapatra
- Dept of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi 70, India
| | | | - Ashok Choudhury
- Dept of Transplantation Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi 70, India
| | - Shashwat Sarin
- Dept of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi 70, India
| | - Ekta Gupta
- Dept of Virology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi 70, India
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4
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Autoimmune Hepatitis in Brazilian Children: IgE and Genetic Polymorphisms in Associated Genes. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:679813. [PMID: 26693492 PMCID: PMC4674601 DOI: 10.1155/2015/679813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients present hypergammaglobulinemia, periportal CD8(+) cytotoxic T cell infiltration, and cirrhosis. Autoantibody profile defines AIH types 1 and 2 in addition to strong association with HLA-DRB1. We previously detected increased IgE serum levels and sought to compare clinical and histological features according to IgE levels in AIH (n = 74, ages 1-14 years) patients. Additionally, we typed 117 patients and 227 controls for functional polymorphisms of IL4, IL13, IL5, and IL4RA genes involved in IgE switching and eosinophil maturation that might contribute to overall genetic susceptibility to AIH. Serum IgE levels were high in 55% of AIH-1, but only in 12% of AIH-2 (P = 0.003) patients. Liver IgE was present in 91.3% of AIH-1 patients. The A alleles at both IL13 rs20541 and IL4RA rs1805011 were associated with AIH-1 (P = 0.024, OR = 1.55 and P < 0.0001, OR = 2.15, resp.). Furthermore, individuals presenting homozygosis for the A allele at IL4RA rs1805011 and HLA-DRB1(∗)03 and/or (∗)13 allele had sixfold greater risk to develop the disease (OR = 14.00, P < 0.001). The novel association suggests an additional role for IgE-linked immune response genes in the pathogenesis of AIH.
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5
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Tomasi VH, Pérez MÁ, Itoiz ME. Modification of Luna's technique for staining eosinophils in the hamster cheek pouch. Biotech Histochem 2009; 83:147-51. [DOI: 10.1080/10520290802352424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- VH Tomasi
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, USA
| | - MÁ Pérez
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, USA
| | - ME Itoiz
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, USA
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Tarantino G, Cabibi D, Cammà C, Alessi N, Donatelli M, Petta S, Craxì A, Di Marco V. Liver eosinophilic infiltrate is a significant finding in patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Viral Hepat 2008; 15:523-30. [PMID: 18266647 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2008.00976.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Eosinophilic infiltrate of liver tissue is described in primary cholestatic diseases, hepatic allograft rejection and drug-induced liver injury, but its significance and its implications in chronic hepatitis C are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of eosinophilic liver infiltrate in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We retrospectively evaluated 147 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The presence of eosinophilic infiltrate was investigated in liver biopsies, and a numeric count of eosinophilic leucocytes in every portal tract was assessed. An eosinophilic infiltrate of liver tissue (> or =3 cells evaluated in the portal / periportal spaces) was observed in 46 patients (31%), and patients who consumed drugs had an odds ratio (OR) of 4.02 (95% CI: 1.62-9.96) to have an eosinophilic infiltrate in liver biopsy. By logistic regression analysis, the presence of steatosis was independently associated with eosinophilic infiltrate (OR 5.86; 95% CI: 2.46-13.96) and homeostasis model assessment-score (OR 1.18; 95% CI: 1.00-1.39). Logistic regression analysis also showed that fibrosis staging > or = 2 by Scheuer score was associated with grading >1 by Scheuer score (OR 6.82; 95% CI 2.46-18.80) and eosinophilic infiltrate (OR 4.00; 95% CI 1.23-12.91). In conclusion, we observed that the eosinophilic infiltrate of liver tissue was significantly more frequent in patients who assumed drugs, and found a significant association between eosinophilic infiltrate, liver steatosis and liver fibrosis. These preliminary data could lead to a constant assumption of drugs as a co-factor of eosinophils-mediated liver injury in chronic hepatitis C.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Tarantino
- Cattedra ed Unità Operativa di Gastroenterologia ed Epatologia, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Italy.
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7
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Kishi Y, Sugawara Y, Tamura S, Kaneko J, Matsui Y, Makuuchi M. Histologic eosinophilia as an aid to diagnose acute cellular rejection after living donor liver transplantation. Clin Transplant 2007; 21:214-8. [PMID: 17425747 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2006.00625.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The significance of histologic eosinophilia in the diagnosis of acute cellular rejection (ACR) after living donor liver transplantation was evaluated. A retrospective analysis was performed on 185 liver biopsy specimens to determine the presence of eosinophil infiltration around the portal tracts. Data were collected and analyzed to determine whether there was a correlation between ACR and the maximum eosinophil counts per portal triad (Em) and the rate of portal triads that included at least one eosinophil (Er). A receiver operating characteristic curve revealed the best cut-off value of Em and Er as 2% and 8% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of an Em of two to predict ACR were 54% and 84% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of Er were 72% and 65% respectively. One-way analysis of variance revealed that both Em and Er correlated with ACR severity. Histologic eosinophilia can be a useful parameter for confirming the occurrence of ACR and for evaluating ACR severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoji Kishi
- Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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8
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Trull AK, Akhlaghi F, Charman SC, Endenberg S, Majid O, Cornelissen J, Steel L, Parameshwar J, Wallwork J, Large S. Immunosuppression, eotaxin and the diagnostic changes in eosinophils that precede early acute heart allograft rejection. Transpl Immunol 2004; 12:159-66. [PMID: 14967314 DOI: 10.1016/s0966-3274(03)00077-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2003] [Revised: 07/28/2003] [Accepted: 08/05/2003] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral blood eosinophil counts (EOS) are undetectable in 40% blood samples sent for routine haematology at Papworth Hospital during the first 3 months after heart transplantation (HTx). Increases in EOS usually precede the development of allograft rejection by a median of 4 days. We compared the effects of cyclosporin (dose and total blood concentration), prednisolone (dose and both total and unbound plasma concentrations) and azathioprine, as well as plasma concentrations of the CCR-3 chemokines, eotaxin and RANTES, on changes in EOS in 47 consecutive HTx recipients, with a median follow-up of 90 (IQR 85-95) days. Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent association between both prednisolone dose (P<0.0001) and eotaxin (P<0.0001) and changes in EOS. The plasma eotaxin concentration was, in turn, most closely associated with the cyclosporin dose (P<0.001) and plasma prednisolone concentration (P=0.022). The blood cyclosporin concentration (P=0.028), EOS (P=0.012) and prednisolone dose (P=0.015) were all independently associated with the risk of treated acute rejection. When prednisolone pharmacokinetic parameters were substituted for the prednisolone dose in this multivariate model, only the pharmacokinetic parameter retained a significant association with the risk of rejection. Changes in EOS preceding cardiac allograft rejection are directly associated with plasma eotaxin concentrations and indirectly with prednisolone dosage. Cyclosporin may also indirectly influence these changes by inhibiting eotaxin production. EOS, prednisolone dose and blood cyclosporin concentrations were independently associated with the risk of acute rejection. The total and unbound fractions of prednisolone in plasma appear to be even more closely related to rejection but are difficult to measure. Monitoring EOS, as a surrogate measure of prednisolone immunosuppression, may be more cost-effective for controlling rejection than conventional cyclosporin monitoring in the first 6 weeks after HTx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K Trull
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge CB3 8RE, UK.
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9
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Barnes EJ, Abdel-Rehim MM, Goulis Y, Abou Ragab M, Davies S, Dhillon A, Davidson B, Rolles K, Burroughs A. Applications and limitations of blood eosinophilia for the diagnosis of acute cellular rejection in liver transplantation. Am J Transplant 2003; 3:432-8. [PMID: 12694065 DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-6143.2003.00083.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluates the predictive value of the blood eosinophil count in the diagnosis of acute cellular rejection, its value as a marker of response to treatment, the diagnostic use in a subgroup of patients with normal transaminases and compares blood eosinophilia in patients with and without hepatitis C virus infection. A consecutive cohort of 101 liver transplant patients, 275 liver biopsies, and blood eosinophils recorded on the day or one day before biopsy were analyzed. An elevated eosinophil count has a positive predictive value for acute cellular rejection of 82%. A normal eosinophil count excludes moderate/severe rejection with a predictive value of 86%. The eosinophil count decreases in 69% of patients following treatment of acute cellular rejection with corticosteroids irrespective of treatment outcome. Acute cellular rejection in the presence of an elevated eosinophil count occurs significantly less often (p = 0.007) in patients with hepatitis C virus. An elevated eosinophil count is a valuable marker of acute cellular rejection. However, blood eosinophil levels should not be used to predict acute cellular rejection following treatment with corticosteroids. Blood eosinophilia, seen less often in patients with hepatitis C virus, may reflect an over-diagnosis of acute cellular rejection in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor J Barnes
- Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London, UK.
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10
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Nagral A, Quaglia A, Sabin CA, Dhillon AP, Bearcroft CP, Millar A, Davies SE, Mistry PK, Davidson BR, Rolles K, Burroughs AK. Blood and graft eosinophils in acute cellular rejection of liver allografts. Transplant Proc 2001; 33:2588-93. [PMID: 11406255 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-1345(01)02105-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Nagral
- Department of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Medicine, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK
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Tsuda K, Maeda T, Tominaga A, Watanabe Y, Miyazaki E, Enzan H, Akisawa N, Iwasaki S, Saibara T, Onishi S. Eosinophil-induced liver injury: an experimental model using IL-5 transgenic mice. J Hepatol 2001; 34:270-7. [PMID: 11281556 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(00)00027-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS In certain liver diseases, activated eosinophils are considered to be important effector cells in addition to T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. No experimental model, however, has been developed for in vivo analysis of the cytotoxic mechanisms. METHODS Interleukin-5 (IL-5) transgenic mice (C3H/HeN-TgN(IL-5)Imeg), which exhibit marked eosinophilia without liver injury, were injected once with 25 microg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneally. The mice were sacrificed weekly and eosinophilic injuries were assessed microscopically. To clarify the role of Kupffer cells and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the liver injury, gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) and anti-TNF-alpha neutralizing antibody were administrated before the LPS injection. RESULTS Two weeks after injection, transgenic mice exhibited marked infiltration of eosinophils and extensive lobular necrosis. Transmigration of eosinophils through vascular endothelium and degranulation of eosinophil cytotoxic granules in inflamed areas were observed. These eosinophilic injuries were transient, but liver-specific. Pre-administration of GdCl3 and anti-TNF-alpha markedly reduced the hepatic inflammation, suggesting that LPS-activated Kupffer cells play a key role in producing the cytotoxicity of eosinophils by releasing TNF-alpha. CONCLUSIONS We have established an experimental model of eosinophil-induced liver injury using IL-5 transgenic mice. Since this model is simple and highly reproducible, it will be useful for analysis of in vivo cytotoxic mechanisms of eosinophils.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Tsuda
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Japan
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12
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Nagral A, Ben-Ari Z, Dhillon AP, Burroughs AK. Eosinophils in acute cellular rejection in liver allografts. LIVER TRANSPLANTATION AND SURGERY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF LIVER DISEASES AND THE INTERNATIONAL LIVER TRANSPLANTATION SOCIETY 1998; 4:355-62. [PMID: 9724472 DOI: 10.1002/lt.500040503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Eosinophils have a role in various allergic and inflammatory disease processes and participate in the process of acute rejection in solid organ allografts. Initial studies described the diagnostic value of eosinophils in kidney allograft rejection. Graft eosinophilia is a sensitive and specific marker of acute rejection in liver allografts and has been incorporated as one of the diagnostic criteria of acute rejection by the Royal Free Hospital scoring system. Blood eosinophilia also has been investigated and is a useful diagnostic marker of acute rejection in liver and kidney allografts, although studies differ in defining the day of onset of eosinophilia in relation to rejection. Eosinophils probably act through the chemokines interleukin-5 and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted) in the pathogenesis of acute rejection. Basic cytotoxic proteins, such as eosinophil cationic protein and major basic protein, are released by the eosinophils, and their effector role in acute rejection has been studied through the use of specific monoclonal antibodies. Successful treatment of acute rejection with corticosteroids has been associated with a decrease in graft and blood eosinophil counts. Eosinophils also act as prognostic markers of acute rejection, as shown by studies reporting that patients with elevated eosinophil counts and steroid-resistant rejection showed a worse prognosis. Further research into the effector mechanisms of eosinophils in acute rejection needs to be performed. The ability of eosinophils to distinguish those diseases with different responses to standard immunosuppression and other diseases in the context of acute rejection also needs to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nagral
- Department of Liver Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
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13
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Hughes VF, Trull AK, Joshi O, Alexander GJ. Monitoring eosinophil activation and liver function after liver transplantation. Transplantation 1998; 65:1334-9. [PMID: 9625015 DOI: 10.1097/00007890-199805270-00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Portal tract eosinophil infiltration and an increase in the blood eosinophil count (EOS) have been shown to be specific markers of liver allograft rejection. The graft eosinophil infiltration is associated with the local release of eosinophil cationic protein. Therefore, serum eosinophil cationic protein concentration (ECP) is a potential marker for acute allograft rejection. We investigated the chronological relationship among and diagnostic value of serial changes in EOS, ECP, and liver function tests (LFTs) following liver transplantation. METHODS EOS, ECP, serum alpha-glutathione S-transferase concentration, and conventional LFTs were measured in serial samples collected over the first 3 postoperative months following 58 liver transplants. The diagnostic potential of each test, alone or in combination, was reviewed over the entire follow-up period. RESULTS EOS and ECP increased at a median period of 3.5 and 4 days, respectively, before the diagnosis of acute rejection, and this increase was significantly earlier than the corresponding changes in LFTs (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between the day of the first increase in EOS and alpha-glutathione S-transferase (rs=0.535; P=0.009) and EOS and alanine transaminase (rs=0.629; P=0.004). The optimum combination of tests for the diagnosis of acute rejection was an increase in both EOS and GST with a predictive efficiency of 84%. CONCLUSIONS Increases in EOS and ECP are early indicators of acute liver allograft rejection and precede evidence of hepatocellular damage. However, an increase in ECP was also frequently associated with infection. Therefore, we recommend the regular monitoring of EOS in conjunction with routine LFTs after liver transplantation as an aid to the early diagnosis of acute rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- V F Hughes
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, England
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