Mucosal fibrosis in intestinal transplant biopsies correlates positively with the development of chronic rejection

Transplant Proc. 2006 Jul-Aug;38(6):1685-6. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2006.05.019.

Abstract

Endoscopic biopsies of intestinal allografts are limited to the superficial layers of the bowel. We investigated whether the presence of mucosal fibrosis in graft biopsies was indicative of chronic allograft rejection. We examined graft biopsies of 182 intestinal transplant recipients for the presence of mucosal fibrosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that within 5 years posttransplantation 33% of intestinal transplant patients had graft biopsies positive for mucosal fibrosis. Although the presence of mucosal fibrosis did not affect patient or graft survival, patients with this lesion were at higher risk of developing chronic allograft enteropathy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Female
  • Fibrosis
  • Graft Rejection / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology*
  • Intestines / transplantation*
  • Liver Transplantation / immunology
  • Liver Transplantation / pathology
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Transplantation, Homologous / pathology*
  • Viscera / transplantation