Role of liver biopsy in the management of liver dysfunction after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in a hepatitis B virus-prevalent patient population

Abstract

Background. Derangement of liver function tests (LFT) is common after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). The role of liver biopsy in such cases has not been defined in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-prevalent patients. The impact of liver biopsy in the management of LFT derangement after HSCT in an HBV-prevalent population was examined. Methods. Seventy-five liver biopsies, performed for 323 patients with LFT derangement post-HSCT (263 allogeneic, 60 autologous), were analyzed. The HBV carrier rate was 13.6%. Results. Significantly more LFT derangements and therefore liver biopsies occurred in allogeneic versus autologous HSCT. Before biopsy, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and HBV reactivation were clinically diagnosed in 70.6% and 25.3% of cases, respectively. A definite histopathologic diagnosis was obtained after biopsy in 53 cases, with GVHD, HBV hepatitis, and concomitant GVHD-HBV hepatitis found in 33%, 21%, and 8% of cases, respectively. The clinical and histopathologic diagnoses were concordant in 43 cases and discordant in 9 cases. Clinical management was altered in six of nine discordant cases, five of which were caused by HBV or hepatitis C virus (HCV) reactivation. Twenty-two biopsy specimens showed nondiagnostic histopathologic features. Twenty of these cases were successfully managed on the basis of clin ical diagnoses. The clinical-biochemical features of patients clinically diagnosed to have GVHD did not differ significantly whether or not they were HBV-HCV carriers. However, liver biopsies in HBV-HCV carriers resulted in significantly more treatment alterations as compared with noncarriers. Conclusions. Clinical diagnoses of LFT derangements post-HSCT might be adequate for initiation of treatment, but liver biopsies in HBV-HCV carriers were needed, as this might impact on management.