2016 Comprehensive Update of the Banff Working Group on Liver Allograft Pathology: Introduction of Antibody-Mediated Rejection.

The Banff Working Group on Liver Allograft Pathology reviewed and discussed literature evidence regarding antibody-mediated liver allograft rejection at the 11th (Paris, France, June 5-10, 2011), 12th (Comandatuba, Brazil, August 19-23, 2013), and 13th (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, October 5-10, 2015) meetings of the Banff Conference on Allograft Pathology. Discussion continued online. The primary goal was to introduce guidelines and consensus criteria for the diagnosis of liver allograft antibody-mediated rejection and provide a comprehensive update of all Banff Schema recommendations. Included are new recommendations for complement component 4d tissue staining and interpretation, staging liver allograft fibrosis, and findings related to immunosuppression minimization. In an effort to create a single reference document, previous unchanged criteria are also included.

Human monoclonal antibody MBL-HCV1 delays HCV viral rebound following liver transplantation: a randomized controlled study.

Rapid allograft infection complicates liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin therapy after LT has significant toxicity and limited efficacy. The effect of a human monoclonal antibody targeting the HCV E2 glycoprotein (MBL-HCV1) on viral clearance was examined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in patients infected with HCV genotype 1a undergoing LT. Subjects received 11 infusions of 50 mg/kg MBL-HCV1 (n=6) or placebo (n=5) intravenously with three infusions on day of transplant, a single infusion on days 1 through 7 and one infusion on day 14 after LT. MBL-HCV1 was well-tolerated and reduced viral load for a period ranging from 7 to 28 days. Median change in viral load (log10 IU/mL) from baseline was significantly greater (p=0.02) for the antibody-treated group (range -3.07 to -3.34) compared to placebo group (range -0.331 to -1.01) on days 3 through 6 posttransplant. MBL-HCV1 treatment significantly delayed median time to viral rebound compared to placebo treatment (18.7 days vs. 2.4 days, p<0.001). As with other HCV monotherapies, antibody-treated subjects had resistance-associated variants at the time of viral rebound. A combination study of MBL-HCV1 with a direct-acting antiviral is underway.

Successful algorithm for selective liver biopsy in the right hepatic lobe live donor (RHLD).

Routine versus selective predonation liver biopsy (LBx) remains controversial for assuring the safety of right hepatic lobe live donor (RHLD). Between December 1999 and March 2007, 403 potential RHLD were evaluated; 142 donated. Indications for selective LBx were: abnormal liver function tests or imaging studies, body mass index (BMI) >28, history of substance abuse or family history of immune mediated liver disease. All donors had a LBx at the time of surgery. Of 403 potential RLD, 149(36.9%) were accepted as donors, 25(6.3%) had their recipient receive a deceased donor graft, 94(23.4%) were rejected, 52(12.9%) stopped the evaluation process, 76(18.8%) withdrew from the process and 7(1.7%) are currently completing evaluation. Eighty-seven (21.5%) met criteria and were biopsied. Seventy-three (83.9%) had either normal (n = 24) or macrosteatosis <10% (n = 49); 51 of these donated. Abnormal LBx eliminated 15 potential donors. No significant abnormalities were found in donation biopsies of donors not meeting algorithm criteria. Three of 87 (3.4%) had complications requiring overnight admission (2 for pain, 1 for bleeding; transfusion not required). Use of this algorithm resulted in 78% of potential donors avoiding biopsy and potential complications. No significant liver pathology was identified in donors not meeting criteria for evaluation LBx. Routine predonation LBx is unnecessary in potential RHLD.

Progressive systemic sclerosis with eosinophilia and a fulminating course.

A case of progressive systemic sclerosis, with blood and pleural fluid eosinophilia and a fulminating course, is presented. Wide-mouth colonic diverticula developed within 10 weeks. Death from renal failure occured five and a half months after the onset of symptoms. The possibility of eosinophilia as a marker of severe disease in progressive systemic sclerosis is raised.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the pancreaticobiliary region: morphologic and immunocytochemical study of three cases.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare tumor of the pancreaticobiliary region. The etiology and biologic behavior of IMTs at this site are unknown. We present three patients with IMT of the pancreaticobiliary region, each with long-term follow-up. In all three cases a second tumor developed. Grossly these tumors mimicked a malignant process. Microscopically, all were composed of an admixture of spindle cells and chronic inflammatory cells, including plasma cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and macrophages. The spindle cells stained positively for smooth muscle actin and vimentin but were negative for S-100, cytokeratin, CD35, and latent membrane protein. Results of in situ hybridization with EBER probes were negative in all cases. In addition to carcinoma, the differential diagnosis of these tumors includes follicular dendritic cell tumor and inflammatory fibrosarcoma. The importance of extensive pathologic examination to prevent misdiagnosis and the need for long-term follow-up are emphasized. This subset of IMT does not appear to be related to Epstein-Barr virus.

Nodular lymphoid lesion of the liver: an immune-mediated disorder mimicking low-grade malignant lymphoma.

Three cases of unusual lymphoid infiltrate forming nodular macroscopic masses in the liver were studied in the authors' surgical pathology laboratory. These lesions posed difficulty in diagnosis, and their differentiation from low-grade lymphoma was not possible on histopathologic evaluation alone. The liver masses were analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically as well as for clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) and T-cell receptor gamma (TCR-gamma) gene rearrangements. The lesions were seen as solitary grossly distinct firm nodules in all three patients, measuring 0.4, 0.7, and 1.5 cm, respectively, in their greatest dimensions. Two were found in livers removed because of end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis at the time of orthotopic liver transplantation, and the third was an incidental finding during laparotomy. Microscopically, these were nodules composed of small lymphocytes, plasma cells, and immunoblasts, with varying degrees of admixed acute inflammatory cells and scattered lymphoid follicles. By immunohistochemistry and molecular studies, these were found to be reactive lymphoid proliferations. All patients are alive and well at 2, 4, and 13 years, respectively. It is concluded that these cases represent a unique type of nodular lymphoid lesion, which is probably an immune-mediated benign reactive hyperplasia. It constitutes an entity by itself and must be distinguished from low-grade lymphoma. For a definitive diagnosis, immunohistochemistry and molecular studies are required.

31P NMR assessment of orthotopic rat liver transplant viability. The effect of warm ischemia.

The relationship between NMR visible high energy phosphates and transplant outcome for the case of liver damage by warm ischemia was investigated. In vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of rat liver was performed before the induction of warm ischemia in the donor and 20 min after reestablishment of portal blood flow in the recipient. Pretransplant damage was varied by subjecting the livers to 0, 15, 30, or 60 min of warm ischemia prior to harvesting. In the controls (0 min warm ischemia), 4 of 4 rats survived transplantation (one week survival end-point) and the mean NTP recovery was 94 +/- 8%; 3 of 6 rats survived in the 15 min warm ischemia group. Mean NTP recovery was 77 +/- 20% in the 15 min survival subgroup and 32 +/- 20% in the nonsurvival subgroup. Of 6 rats, 1 survived in the 30 min group. NTP recovery was 44% for the 30 min survivor and 37 +/- 5% in the nonsurvival subgroup. Of 4 rats, 1 survived in the 60 min warm ischemia group. NTP recovery was 56% for the 60 min survivor and 28 +/- 7% in the nonsurvival subgroup. Overall, there was a significant difference between the mean NTP recovery of the survival and nonsurvival subgroups (78 +/- 21% versus 31 +/- 18%, P < 0.001). The dividing line between the survival and nonsurvival groups was approximately 50% NTP recovery. Of 9 rats with liver NTP recovery greater than 50%, 8 survived while 10 of 11 rats with less than 50% recovery died. NMR visible NTP recovery 20 min after the reestablishment of portal blood flow was a good indicator of transplant outcome in the case of rat liver damage by warm ischemia.

A rat fatty liver transplant model.

A rat model of fatty liver transplantation has been developed to study primary nonfunction in fatty liver grafts. ACI rats were fed with a diet deficient in choline and methionine for 7, 14, 28, and 42 days. Fat content in the pretransplant livers was examined by gas chromatography and histology. The main constituent of the fatty droplets was determined to be triglyceride. The triglyceride concentration reached a maximum by day 14 and remained constant for an additional 28 days. Histology revealed an absence of necrosis in 14- and 28-day fatty livers but scattered hepatocytic necrosis and inflammation in 42-day fatty livers. After being given cold (UW stored, 4 degrees C) or warm (37 degrees C) ischemia, the fatty liver was orthotopically transplanted into normal ACI rats. The one-week survival of fatty liver grafts after 6, 12, 18, and 24 hr cold preservation was 5/5, 5/6, 3/8, 0/6 for 14-day fatty liver and 5/5, 4/6, 0/8, 0/6 for 42-day fatty livers. The survival of normal liver grafts was 5/5, 6/6, 5/9, 2/8, respectively. Increased survival rate was correlated with the absence of hepatocytic necrosis. The survival after 15 and 30 min warm ischemia prior to transplant was 5/5, 2/6 for normal liver grafts and 4/7, 0/6 for 28-day fatty liver graft, respectively. Fatty livers were less resistant to damage induced by cold or warm ischemia.

Serologic and DNA follow-up data from HBsAg-positive patients treated with orthotopic liver transplantation.

Fifteen hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive patients treated with orthotopic liver transplantation were studied to determine whether any clinical, serologic, or histologic data were predictive for recurrent hepatitis B infection leading to graft failure. Six patients died early, one due to primary graft nonfunction and the remaining five due to septic complications. There were nine patients surviving longer than two months, eight of whom are alive at a mean follow-up of 556 days. HBsAg and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) reappeared in the sera of all survivors after a variable transient period of clearance. One patient died 3 months posttransplant of fungal sepsis and was found to have histologic evidence for recurrent hepatitis and positive immunoperoxidase staining postmortem. The remaining eight survivors are home and clinically well, with no histologic evidence of hepatitis. Seven of these eight patients have hepatitis B viral DNA in their sera. We conclude that while there is a high early mortality, usually from sepsis, none of the serologic, histologic, or DNA data analyzed can be used to predict graft loss from recurrent hepatitis. No grafts have been lost due to recurrent hepatitis B in this series, and therefore we believe that HBsAg positive patients should not be excluded from transplantation.

Pulmonary complications of orthotopic liver transplantation.

Pulmonary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) were prospectively evaluated in 18 individuals transplanted at the New England Deaconess Hospital. Of sixteen patients who survived the immediate postoperative period, 12 (75%) sustained a pulmonary complication. Of these complications, 64% were noninfectious--whereas 22% were infectious, and 14% probably infectious. Six of eight documented infections were caused by viruses of the herpes group. In four cases of viral pneumonitis other pulmonary pathogens were isolated (fungi-3, protozoan-1, bacteria-1). Unlike noninfectious complications, pulmonary infections were associated with a fatal outcome in five of six patients who died after OLT. Pulmonary complications are frequent and serious occurrences after OLT, and contribute to both the morbidity and mortality of this procedure. Compared with pulmonary complications seen after transplantation of other organs, OLT was associated with a higher proportion of noninfectious complications but a similar spectrum of pulmonary infections.

Steatosis in donor and transplant liver biopsies.

The purpose of this study was to identify the significance and clinical correlation of steatosis in donor and posttransplantation liver biopsies. One hundred twenty-six liver biopsies with fatty change from 86 liver transplant patients were reviewed. Micro- and macro-steatosis were graded semiquantitatively and correlated with clinical and other pathologic parameters. Fifty-one donor biopsy specimens, from 50 patients, had combinations of micro- (predominantly) and macro-steatosis. One of 2 patients with high-grade micro- and macro-steatosis required a retransplantation on the third day. Three early deaths were not related to graft dysfunction. In 36 patients, steatosis developed after transplantation. In 13 of 36, steatosis was seen in the early postoperative period with a background of severe ischemic injury, 6 of whom died within 45 days posttransplantation. Other causes of steatosis developing after liver transplantation included hepatitis C (n = 12), alcoholic steatohepatitis (n = 3), diabetes mellitus or obesity (n = 7) and poor nutrition (n = 2). The presence of steatosis in 1 patient's donor and all posttransplantation biopsy specimens remained unexplained. In conclusion, (1) microsteatosis in donor liver biopsy specimens has no effect on graft function; (2) ischemic injury with development of steatosis in the early posttransplantation period may be associated with poor clinical outcome; and (3) steatosis in the posttransplantation period is uncommon and usually related to recurrent or acquired hepatitis C.

Fibrosis/cirrhosis after orthotopic liver transplantation.

The causes and pathologic changes leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are not fully defined. The computerized pathology files were searched for cases of fibrosis/cirrhosis after OLT. Of 493 grafts from 435 patients, 35 grafts from 32 patients of posttransplantation liver fibrosis/cirrhosis were identified and retrieved (7%). Detailed histopathologic examinations of all post-OLT liver biopsy specimens were performed in conjunction with clinical, virologic, serologic, and molecular diagnostics information. Two cases with subcapsular septa and fibrous tissue close to hilum were excluded as false positives. Fibrosis/cirrhosis was confirmed in the remaining 33 grafts. In 20, the underlying cause was recurrent viral hepatitis, including eight with hepatitis C, 10 with hepatitis B, and two with combined hepatitis C and B. Another two with pretransplantation chronic hepatitis B developed cirrhosis without detectable virologic markers after OLT; these were biliary type secondary to obstruction in one, and chronic changes due to severe graft ischemia in one. Three patients acquired hepatitis C after OLT, with molecular confirmation available in two. In five patients, the underlying causes were Budd-Chiari syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis, recurrent autoimmune hepatitis, recurrent primary biliary cirrhosis, alcohol-induced liver disease, and recurrent bile duct carcinoma. Three cases had centrilobular fibrosis but without bridging septa or cirrhosis as a result of chronic rejection. It was concluded that (1) Cirrhosis after OLT is uncommon (7%). (2) Chronic rejection does not lead to cirrhosis, but it may result in centrilobular fibrosis. (3) In most (70%) cases, cirrhosis after OLT is attributed to recurrent or acquired viral hepatitis.

Orthotopic liver transplantation for familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy: a pathological study.

Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), a hereditary form of systemic amyloidosis with clinically significant neuropathy and cardiomyopathy, is caused by a genetic defect of the transthyretin gene, which is mostly synthesized in the liver. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is thought to eliminate the amyloidogenic protein and currently is the only definitive treatment for this disorder. The aim of this study was to define the distribution and extent of amyloid deposition in tissues from these patients and evaluate the suitability of the resected FAP livers for transplantation into non-FAP patients. Surgical specimens from 14 patients removed at the time of OLT and autopsy tissues from 3 of the 14 were examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin and Congo red-stained sections. The extent of amyloid deposits was evaluated, semiquantitatively graded from negative to marked, and correlated with clinical course and patient outcome. Amyloid deposits were consistently seen in hilar and vagus nerves. Liver lobular involvement was minimal in 1 and absent in the other 13 cases, with portal arterial amyloid deposits seen in 7 cases. At autopsy, extensive amyloid deposition in the heart was seen in all 3 cases with involvement of the conduction system. The extent of amyloid deposition at OLT did not correlate with the duration of symptoms before OLT or patient outcome after OLT. In conclusion, liver parenchymal involvement in FAP is minimal, and these explants are suitable for grafting in non-FAP patients. The recipients of such grafts must be carefully observed for the development of any amyloid-related disease, particularly cardiomyopathy. Of the tissues removed at OLT, the histopathologic confirmation of FAP is most consistently made by the examination of hilar and vagus nerves.

Histopathology of the donor gallbladder removed at orthotopic liver transplantation: correlation with graft function.

The histopathology of 50 consecutive donor gallbladders removed during orthotopic liver transplantation was reviewed and correlated with graft function. Multiple sections of the gallbladders were examined for the presence of mucosal congestion, hemorrhage, and necrosis, without prior knowledge of the clinical outcome. Each pathologic feature was graded as absent (0), involving less than 10% (1+), 10% to 50% (2+), or more than 50% (3+) of the histologically examined mucosa. Graft function was determined by two transplant surgeons, a poor diagnosis being worsening of liver function tests associated with declining mental status and resulting in immediate retransplantation or early postoperative death; all others were categorized as good. Of 39 patients with good graft function, 18 had normal donor gallbladders, 11 had congestion only, and 10 had hemorrhage and/or necrosis. Of 11 patients with poor graft function, eight had hemorrhage and/or necrosis (2+ in seven), three had congestion only, and none had a normal gallbladder mucosa. Congestion alone was found to be a poor predictor of graft damage. Presence of any grade of hemorrhage and/or necrosis in donor gallbladders as related to poor liver graft function had a sensitivity of 73%, a specificity of 74%, a positive predictive value of 44%, and a negative predictive value of 91%. When hemorrhage and/or necrosis of 2+ severity was separately grouped and correlated with poor graft function, the specificity rose to 97% and the positive predictive value to 88%, and the negative predictive value was similar at 90%. We conclude that donor gallbladders often show mucosal abnormalities consisting of varying degrees of congestion, hemorrhage, and necrosis. The finding of hemorrhage and/or necrosis affecting more than 10% of the mucosa appears to be a specific lesion of ischemic damage that correlates highly with poor liver graft function.

Recurrent hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and combined hepatitis B and C in liver allografts: a comparative pathological study.

Although recurrence of viral hepatitis in liver transplants is common, data comparing recurrent hepatitis B (HB), hepatitis C (HC), and co-existing dual hepatitis B and C (HB&C) are sparse. Posttransplantation liver biopsies, along with molecular, serological, immunohistochemical, and clinical data from 27 patients with pretransplantation diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis, were reviewed. The patients were placed into 4 groups: Group I, with pretransplantation HB (n = 8); group II, with pretransplantation HC (n = 10); group III with pretransplantation HC and anti-HB surface or core antibody (n = 4); and group IV, with pretransplantation HB&C (n = 5). The histopathologic findings and patient outcome were compared in the 4 groups. A high rate of recurrence of viral hepatitis was seen for all 4 groups: Group I = 100%, group II = 90%, Group III = 100%, and group IV = 80%, with the mean (median) recurrence time of 308 (224), 82 (52), 61 (64), and 125 (70) days, respectively. The number of deaths (their median survival times) were: group I = 4 (374 days), group II = 4 (794 days), group III = 1 (1,143 days), and group IV = 5 (448 days). The earliest histological findings of lobular injury was the presence of acidophil bodies and Kupffer cell hyperplasia, the latter being more prominent in recurrent HC cases. Recurrent HB presented in 2 forms: early (before 150 days) with poor survival and with either severe necroinflammatory histology or with features of fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis, and delayed (after 150 days), with mild necro-inflammatory activity and prolonged survival. HC with or without anti-HB antibodies had early recurrence, but the course was slowly progressive. Patients with HB&C had recurrence of both viruses; however, the course was dictated by HB virus.

Benign lesions mimicking malignant tumors of the esophagus.

Three cases of benign lesions which mimicked malignant tumors of the esophagus are described. In all three cases, two inflammatory pseudotumors and one case of diffuse leiomyomatosis, the clinical presentations, radiologic features, and gross pathologic findings led to the mistaken diagnosis of carcinoma at thoracotomy. The benign nature of the processes was recognizable only on microscopic examination. Although most benign tumors of the esophagus are localized solitary lesions that are easily distinguished from carcinoma, occasionally benign conditions may present as infiltrative, ulcerated mass lesions. Inflammatory pseudotumor and diffuse leiomyomatosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of esophageal malignancies.

Adult-to-adult live donor liver transplantation: a short-term clinicopathologic study.

With the success of pediatric live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and the continued shortage of cadaveric donors, adult-to-adult LDLT has been performed at some centers, including ours. We performed a detailed histologic review of all liver specimens obtained from 9 adult recipients at and after LDLT and correlated these findings with the patients' course and outcome. Five patients had histologic evidence of biliary tract pathology; 3 of 5 required surgical or radiologic intervention. The other 2 had clinically insignificant biliary disease. Diffuse hepatocytic hemorrhagic necrosis secondary to massive portal blood flow after portal venous revascularization resulted in graft failure and retransplantation in a single patient with severe preoperative portal hypertension. Two perioperative deaths were caused by sepsis and multiorgan failure (day 25) and generalized thrombosis related to factor V Leiden (day 6). The preoperative diagnosis, presence of portal vein thrombosis in the native liver, postoperative cholangiopathy, and subcapsular hemorrhagic necrosis in donor liver wedge biopsies did not affect the short-term outcome. In conclusion, biliary tract pathology is common after adult-to-adult LDLT but does not negatively affect graft or patient survival. Infrequent but catastrophic vascular complications related to portal hemodynamics or thrombosis can result in graft loss and/or patient death.

Primary cancer of the liver. Evaluation, treatment, and prognosis.

Between 1970 and 1985, a diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma was established in 98 patients. Sixty-one cases developed in the presence of chronic liver disease, and only six of these were considered resectable. Of these, the median survival was 19 months. There was one perioperative death. Of the 98 tumors, 37 arose in normal livers. Of the 16 patients with tumors in normal livers that were resected, all survived operation. The long-term median survival was 32 months. Two subsets of the fibrolamellar and clear-cell variants appeared to carry a more favorable prognosis.

Shifting proportions of gastric adenocarcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: To substantiate reports of increasing proportions of gastric adenocarcinoma of diffuse histologic type and in the proximal portion of the stomach, to better understand the prognostic features that govern survival, and to determine whether alterations of operative strategy might improve the surgical results. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 289 consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma operated on by general surgeons over a 26-year period. Records were reviewed for location, histologic type, resection, operative mortality, lymph node status, and outcome. SETTING: The Section of Surgical Oncology, the New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Mass. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival rate, length of life of the patients who died, and operative mortality. RESULTS: A marked and significant shift of gastric adenocarcinoma to a proximal location (54% between 1985 and 1990) occurred over 26 years (P = .0075) with a significant stage improvement at presentation (P = .0235). Percentages of cancers that were of the diffuse, poorly differentiated histologic type increased to 48%. More curative operations were performed in the last period (61%), and this upward trend from 37% was significant. Proximal gastric cancers had a poorer prognosis with more operative deaths, more lymph node metastases, and worse survival rates than distal cancers. Poor survival rates occurred even when comparing patients with negative lymph nodes or favorable histologic features with patients with similar distal cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant increases in the proportion of proximal cancers, survival rates have improved only slightly. Nodal status plays a less prognostic role than does location or histologic type but does provide prognostic information for individual locations. Survival rates for diffuse histologic cancer were consistently worse than those for intestinal histologic cancer, which emphasizes the underlying disease biology controlling outcome. Radical lymphadenectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma would not improve surgical outcome in the United States.

Hepatitis C virus reinfection in orthotopic liver transplant patients with or without concomitant hepatitis B infection.

Although recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) patients is frequent, the relationship between HCV recurrence and graft pathology, particularly in patients who also have a history of hepatitis B virus (HBV), is unclear. The recurrence of HCV after OLT was determined by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the sera and livers of 41 patients with OLT, 32 of whom underwent transplants for HCV or HBV-related disease. Results were compared with liver function tests, liver histology (including HBV immunohistochemistry), and antibody status. HCV PCR was more frequently positive in OLT patients with a history of HCV only (59%) than in those with a history of both HCV and HBV (41%) or no history of viral infection (2%). Recurrent HCV (60% overall) was associated with mild elevation of liver function tests and mild to moderate hepatitis. In patients who underwent transplants for both HCV and HBV disease, hepatitis on biopsy was more frequently associated with recurrent HBV than with recurrent HCV. We conclude that graft reinfection with HCV, which is frequent in OLT patients with or without HBV recurrence, is usually associated with only mild to moderate hepatitic changes compatible with graft survival.