Day-5 protocol liver allograft biopsies document early rejection episodes and are predictive of recurrent rejection

The day-5 posttransplant protocol biopsy specimens and clinical courses of 27 consecutive orthotopic liver transplant recipients followed up at least 6 months were reviewed.

Twelve (44%) of 27 patients had histologic evidence of rejection on the day-5 biopsy; 8 (67%) of these 12 patients required OKT3 for reversal of the rejection. No significant differences in biochemical liver test results, bile output, or cyclosporine levels were observed between this group and the 15 patients (56%) without histologic evidence of rejection on day 5. Eight (67%) of the 12 patients with rejection had recurrent rejection episodes, with one recurrence each in six patients, two recurrences in one patient, and three recurrences in one patient. Of the 15 patients without rejection on day 5, nine (60%) subsequently had rejection at 10 days, 14 days, and 1 1/2, 3 1/2, 4, 5, and 11 months after transplantation. Only one (11%) of these nine patients had a recurrent rejection episode. There were no differences in the incidence of posttransplant cytomegalovirus infections between the two groups. Two cases of posttransplant lymphoma were seen; they developed in two patients without rejection on the day-5 biopsy. No patients or allografts were lost to acute or chronic rejection. No complications occurred as a result of the day-5 protocol biopsy.

The day-5 protocol biopsy is useful in detecting rejection episodes that may not otherwise be clinically apparent.