Cited by 148Liver Diseases and ImmunityOrgan Transplantation Techniques and OutcomesPediatric Hepatobiliary Diseases and Treatments

Recurrence of primary biliary cirrhosis after liver transplantation: Histologic estimate of incidence and natural history

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Sylvestre, Pamela B., Batts, Kenneth P., Burgart, Lawrence J., Poterucha, John J., Wiesner, Russell H.·2003·Liver Transplantation

Abstract

The goals of this study were to determine the rate of recurrent primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) based on strict morphologic criteria and to evaluate histologic progression of recurrent PBC over time. Strict criteria for PBC recurrence were established as the presence of a florid duct lesion or destructive lymphocytic cholangitis within a dense portal infiltrate. Of the 784 OLTs performed at the Mayo Clinic during the first 12 years of the program, 100 met criteria for the PBC study group, and 35 met criteria for the control group. Strict histologic criteria for recurrent PBC were observed in 17 of 100 (17%) study patients (14 with florid duct lesion, 3 with destructive lymphocytic cholangitis within dense portal infiltrate). Mean follow-up for the PBC group was 4.7 years (range, 1.0 to 13.8). Mean time to recurrence was 3.7 years (median, 3.1; range, 0.3 to 7.9). In those who met strict criteria for recurrent PBC, 2 of 17 progressed to septal fibrosis (stage 3). No florid duct lesions, destructive lymphocytic cholangitis, or septal fibrosis were observed in the control group. Other less specific morphologic features of PBC (portal infiltrates, plasma cells, dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, and lymphocytic cholangitis) were also evaluated in the course of this study. Based on strict criteria, a conservative histologic estimate of the rate of recurrent PBC is 17% with a mean of 4.7 years of follow-up. When criteria for histologic recurrence are expanded to include moderate lymphocytic cholangitis with lymphoplasmacytic portal infiltrate, the recurrence rate of PBC is estimated as 26%.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1053/jlts.2003.50213

Cites

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  • Recurrent PBC develops in 20%-30% of transplant recipients by 10 years and up to 50% by 20 years.

    “Some 20% to 30% of patients with PBC who undergo transplantation develop recurrent disease over 10 years, and up to 50% do so by 20 years of follow-up.”

    From Primary Biliary Cholangitis: 2018 Practice Guidance from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2019) · cites this paper as [257]

    The Recurrence Rate section reports recurrent PBC in 17% of patients using strict histologic criteria; Table 4 gives an estimate of 26% using expanded criteria. Neither is a 10-year estimate: the Patient Groups section reports mean follow-up of 4.7 years and a maximum of 13.8 years. The paper does not support the claim of up to 50% recurrence by 20 years. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Recurrent PBC rarely impacts long-term patient or graft survival.

    “Fortunately, recurrent PBC infrequently affects long-term patient or graft survival.(258)”

    From Primary Biliary Cholangitis: 2018 Practice Guidance from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2019) · cites this paper as [258]

    The Introduction says clinically recognized recurrent PBC has rarely been reported, and the Conclusion reports progression to septal fibrosis in only 2 of 17 patients with histologic recurrence. Those findings support limited observed clinical impact, but the paper does not establish an effect on long-term patient or graft survival; the Conclusion says longer follow-up is needed to assess clinical significance. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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  • Median time to PBC recurrence after transplantation is 3 to 6 years.

    “The median time to recurrence is 3 to 6 years.(256,257)”
  • Post-transplant UDCA use is associated with lower recurrence rates (21% vs 62%; P = 0.004).

    “patients on UDCA post liver transplantation appear to have lower recurrence rates compared with patients who did not receive UDCA post transplant (21% versus 62%; P = 0.004).(257)”

    From Primary Biliary Cholangitis: 2018 Practice Guidance from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2019) · cites this paper as [257]

    The Recurrence Rate and Conclusion sections report an overall histologic recurrence rate of 17%, but do not compare patients who did and did not receive UDCA. Searches for UDCA, ursodeoxycholic acid, and the claimed percentages and P value found no passage addressing the treatment comparison. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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  • Higher MELD score at wait list registration is linked to more PBC recurrence after transplantation.

    “In a recent study, a higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score at the time of wait list registration was also associated with increased recurrence rates.(257)”

    From Primary Biliary Cholangitis: 2018 Practice Guidance from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2019) · cites this paper as [257]

    The Patient Groups and Conclusion sections describe the transplant cohort and estimate histologic PBC recurrence, but do not link recurrence to a MELD score at wait-list registration. Searches for “MELD,” “wait list registration,” and pretransplant disease severity found no passage addressing that association. (LLM, conf=0.72)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Neuberger J, Portmann B, MacDougall BRD, Calne RY, Wil- liams R. Recurrence of primary biliary cirrhosis after liver trans- plantation. N Engl J Med 1982;306:1-4.
  2. Hubscher SG, Buckels JAC, Elias E, Mayer AD, McMaster P, Neuberger JM. Does primary biliary cirrhosis recur after liver transplantation [abstract]? Hepatology 1992;16:545.

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Authors
Sylvestre, P. B., Batts, K. P., Burgart, L. J., Poterucha, J. J., & Wiesner, R. H.
Affiliations
Mayo Clinic (US)
Corresponding author
Sylvestre, Pamela B.
Venue
Liver Transplantation
Published
2003-10
Volume
9
Issue
10
Pages
1086-1093
ISSN
1527-6465 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2086612029
Cited by
148
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Liver Transplantation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver Diseases and Immunity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Organ Transplantation Techniques and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pediatric Hepatobiliary Diseases and Treatments
Keywords
primary biliary cirrhosis, recurrence, septal fibrosis, histological criteria, natural history (disease), lymphoplasmacytic infiltration
MeSH terms
Bile Ducts, Cholangitis, Fibrosis, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary, Plasma Cells, Postoperative Complications, Recurrence, Incidence, Liver Transplantation, Disease Progression

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