Assessment of Donor Liver Pathology Predicts Survival After Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The aims of this study were to investigate the pathologic manifestation of pretransplant biopsy and to provide an accurate assessment method for liver graft of China Donation after Citizen's Death (CDCD).

A retrospective analysis was performed based on clinical and biopsy data of 96 CDCD liver transplantations completed between January 2012 and December 2017. The pretransplant pathologic sections were semiquantitatively scored according to Banff Schema recommendations on liver allograft pathology. Graft overall survival (OS) and early allograft dysfunction (EAD) rates were observed.

The histologic analysis of the 96 CDCD liver graft biopsy specimens was summarized, including portal area neutrophilic infiltrate, macrovesicular steatosis, microvesicular steatosis, and hepatocellular swelling. Among these pathologic characteristics, only portal area neutrophilic infiltrate ≥20% was an independent risk factor for graft survival, although it has limited effect on the recipient's short-term prognosis.

We found that portal area neutrophilic infiltrate ≥20% was an independent risk factors for long-term graft survival. According to this criterion, we can identify liver transplant recipients at risk for poor prognosis and make timely interventions.