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Posttransplant liver granulomatosis associated with hepatitis C?
R Bárcena1, A L Sanromán, S Del Campo
1Department of Pathology, Hospital Ramon Y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
Transplantation
|June 30, 1998
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can cause liver granulomas after liver transplantation. This finding suggests HCV should be considered in post-transplant liver biopsy diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- Liver granulomatosis is an infrequent finding in posttransplant liver biopsies.
- Diagnosing liver granulomatosis is challenging due to diverse etiologies.
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been anecdotally linked to liver granulomas in non-transplant patients.
Observation:
- A liver transplant recipient with HCV-associated cirrhosis presented with abnormal liver tests.
- Liver biopsy revealed granulomatosis in the transplanted liver.
Findings:
- Exclusion of other granulomatosis causes was confirmed.
- The onset of granulomatous lesions correlated with a viral flare-up of HCV.
Implications:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) should be considered a potential cause of liver granulomas in the post-transplant setting.
- HCV-related liver granulomas warrant inclusion in the differential diagnosis for post-transplant liver biopsies.
- This case highlights the importance of considering viral reactivation in post-transplant complications.