Neuropathologic findings after liver transplantation

Abstract

Neuropathologic findings are described in 37 patients autopsied after one or more orthotopic liver transplants. Gross or microscopic lesions were observed in almost all patients, including anoxic-ischemic change, hemorrhages and/or infarcts, and opportunistic infections by fungi (most commonly Aspergillus) and rarely viruses (cytomegalovirus). Central pontine and extra-pontine myelinolysis was commonly observed, and appeared to result from severe multifactorial metabolic abnormalities in the perioperative period. Low-grade (microglial nodule) encephalitis without an obvious pathogen was often encountered. Common clinical neurologic abnormalities included encephalopathy, seizures (myoclonic, focal or generalized), obtundation and coma. These were found more commonly than focal findings, but clinical features in a given patient were not uniformly predictive of underlying neuropathologic change.