Emerging entities of immune-mediated allograft dysfunction after liver transplantation?

Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Distress in Patients With Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatic Resection or Transplantation

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to compare the post-operative health-related quality of life in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; within the Milan criteria) after liver resection or liver transplantation.

METHODS

From August 2000 to December 2010, 207 patients were diagnosed with early HCC within the Milan criteria. We divided these patients into 2 groups according to their curative schedule: the liver transplantation group (n = 95) and the liver resection group (n = 110). We compared the baseline characteristics of these 2 groups of patients, after which we focused on comparing the post-operative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and psychological outcome in these 2 groups.

RESULTS

The demographics of the patients in the 2 groups were similar, and there were no significant differences except for higher family income in the transplantation group (P = .002).With long-term follow-up, there were no significant differences in the 8 domains of the HRQOL and the 9 domains of the psychological outcome measure between the 2 groups. Both the transplantation and resection groups exhibited good outcomes in both HRQOL and psychological outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Several years after operation, early-stage HCC patients who underwent liver transplantation or resection had similar long-term HRQOL and psychological outcomes.

Progressive Fibrosis Is Driven by Genetic Predisposition, Allo-immunity, and Inflammation in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

Aim

To determine predisposing factors of idiopathic allograft fibrosis among pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Background

Protocol biopsies (PB) from stable liver transplant (LT) recipient children frequently exhibit idiopathic fibrosis. The relation between allograft inflammation, humoral immune response and fibrosis is uncertain. Also the role of HLA-DRB1 genotype has not been evaluated, though it's associated with fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis.

Patients and Methods

This observational study, included 89 stable LT recipient transplanted between 2004–2012 with mean follow-up of 4.3 years, 281 serial PBs (3.1 biopsy/child) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody data. PBs were taken 1–2, 2–3, 3–5, 5–7, and 7–10 years post-LT, and evaluated for inflammation and fibrosis using liver allograft fibrosis score (LAFSc). The evolution of fibrosis, inflammation and related predisposing factors were analysed.

Findings

HLA-DRB1*03/04 allele and Class II DSA were significantly associated with portal fibrosis (p = 0.03; p = 0.03, respectively). Portal inflammation was predisposed by Class II DSA (p = 0.02) and non-HLA antibody presence (p = 0.01). Non-portal fibrosis wasn't predisposed by inflammation. Lobular inflammation was associated with non-HLA antibodies.

Interpretation

We conclusively demonstrated that allograft inflammation results in fibrosis and is associated with post-LT Class II DSA and non-HLA antibodies. The HLA-DRB1*03/04 allele caused genetic predisposition for fibrosis.

Funding

None.

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There is a link between genetic predisposition, alloimmune antibodies, allograft inflammation and fibrosis

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Description of allograft natural history by assessing evolution of inflammation, fibrosis in different histological zones

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Allograft inflammation results in allograft fibrosis and is associated with post-LT Class II DSA and non-HLA antibodies

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The HLA-DRB1*03/04 allele causes genetic predisposition for fibrosis

Among pediatric liver transplant recipients, the graft longevity is expected to parallel the life expectancy of the recipient. A major impediment in this is progressive allograft fibrosis, the cause of which is not well understood. If this pathogenesis could be found, then interventions to arrest the progressive fibrosis could be explored. In our 89 patients for whom we did periodic surveillance liver biopsies, inflammation was found to precede the fibrosis and associated with presence of specific antibodies. Certain genetic predisposition for higher fibrogenesis was also found, thus establishing a link between genetic predisposition, alloimmune response, inflammation, and allograft fibrosis.