Acute cellular rejection in adult liver transplant recipients in Johannesburg, South Africa

Authors

  • K Kinandu Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • B Bobat Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • R Crawford School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • M Eagar Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • P Gaylard Consulting statistician, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Z Khan Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • W Kuka School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • V Lala Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • A Mahomed Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • D Mokgoko School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • D Parbhoo Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • S Rambarran Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • F van der Schyff Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • M Seabi Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • S Sobnach School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • B Ströbele Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • J Wing School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • J Loveland Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • J Fabian Wits Donald Gordon Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2025.v115i9.3231

Keywords:

Rejection, Liver, Transplant

Abstract

Background. Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) in Johannesburg, South Africa, established a liver transplant programme in 2004. Acute cellular rejection (ACR) of the transplanted liver is a serious complication because of the potential for graft loss. ACR is defined as allograft dysfunction secondary to predominantly T-cell-mediated injury to the graft, and has been reported in up to 50% of liver transplants worldwide. While the advent of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression reduces the incidence of ACR in liver transplant recipients, it remains a concern.

Objectives. To review the incidence and risk factors for ACR, as well as the impact of ACR on graft survival in adult liver transplant recipients at WDGMC.

Methods. This was a retrospective review of first-time adult liver transplants performed from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2022. Data collected included donor and recipient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics; transplant surgical procedure details; postoperative surgical complications; overall post-transplant ACR incidence rates in the first 365 days; ACR incidence stratified as early (≤90 days) and late (>91 days - <365 days); diagnosis and treatment details of biopsy-proven ACR episodes, including steroid resistance; and graft survival.

Results. Of 326 first-time adult liver transplants performed during the review period, 295 were eligible for inclusion. The post-transplant ACR incidence rates were 10.7% (early), 8.8% (late) and 20.3% overall (first 365 days). Corticosteroid resistance occurred in 19% of adult liver transplant recipients with biopsy-proven ACR. Risk factors for early ACR were younger recipient age, black ethnicity and male-donor- to-female-recipient sex discordance. A higher pre-transplant model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was a risk factor in late ACR. Younger recipient age, black ethnicity, female sex, acute liver failure, lower donor risk index scores and postoperative biliary complications were associated with increased risk for ACR in the first 365 days. ACR was not significantly associated with increased graft loss in this cohort.

Conclusion. While the incidence of ACR was low in this cohort, identification of ACR risk factors and presence of steroid-resistant ACR indicate the need for personalised and context-specific immunosuppression.

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Published

2025-10-02

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Section

Research

How to Cite

1.
Kinandu K, Bobat B, Crawford R, Eagar M, Gaylard P, Khan Z, et al. Acute cellular rejection in adult liver transplant recipients in Johannesburg, South Africa. S Afr Med J [Internet]. 2025 Oct. 2 [cited 2025 Oct. 7];115(9):e3231. Available from: https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/3231

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