Key Histologic Features Distinguish Cytomegalovirus Hepatitis from Acute T-cell Mediated Rejection in Liver Allografts

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major opportunistic infection after liver transplantation and often mimics acute T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), creating management uncertainty. We performed a retrospective study to identify practical histologic features that separate CMV hepatitis from TCMR in routine sign-out. We included 10 recipients with CMV hepatitis and 5 with moderate to severe TCMR. A board-certified pathologist with liver expertise rereviewed available slides and recorded portal inflammation, bile duct injury, venous endotheliitis, lobular microgranulomas, neutrophilic microabscesses, and CMV inclusions; clinical data were abstracted from the record.

CMV hepatitis was diagnosed earlier after transplant than TCMR (272 ± 211 vs 549 ± 522 days). Slides were available for 7 CMV and all 5 TCMR biopsies. In CMV hepatitis, inclusions were present in all reviewed patients; semi-quantitatively, a single inclusion was seen in 3/7 (43%) and >3 inclusions in 4/7 (57%). Venous endotheliitis was present in all cases (7/7, 100%). Portal infiltrates were lymphohistiocytic with rare to occasional eosinophils (7/7, 100%). Lobular microgranulomas were universal (7/7, 100%), with one patient showing well-defined portal and lobular non-necrotizing granulomas. Bile duct injury was none or minimal in 6/7 (86%), and neutrophilic microabscesses were present in 3/7 (43%). In contrast, TCMR biopsies lacked inclusions, microgranulomas, and microabscesses (0/5 each) and showed predominantly lymphocytic portal inflammation with prominent bile duct injury and venous endotheliitis (5/5, 100%). Antiviral therapy was given in 9/10 CMV patients; four were indeterminate for TCMR and one had concomitant TCMR. During follow-up, recurrent CMV occurred in 4/10 and late chronic rejection in 2; no incident CMV viremia occurred in the TCMR group.

A pattern of portal-predominant, histiocyte-rich inflammation with lobular microgranulomas and occasional neutrophilic microabscesses, in the setting of little or no bile duct injury, supports CMV hepatitis over TCMR and can guide targeted inclusion searches and ancillary testing.