Pathohistological observation of the transplant arteriosclerosis of chronic rejection

Abstract

Objective To investigate the pathohistological changes of transplant arteriosclerosis in chronic rejection. Methods Pathological change of transplant aorta was observed by using the computer image analysis system and electron microscopy at 3, 7, 14, 20, 30 and 60 days after arterial transplantation. Results Except two grafts in which the cold ischemia time of donor aorta exceeded 1!h showed minimal intimal thickening at 14 days in the control group post-operation, the remaining transplant arteries showed no significant difference from the normal arteries of the recipients themselves. In the allografts group, the inflammatory cells infiltrated in the adventitia at the third day post-operation, intimal denudation at 7th day, the cell migrated from media to intima and the intimal hyperplasia at the 14th day, and the intimal mid semimonth hyperplasia at the 20th day. The smooth muscle cell was transformed from contractile type into synthetic type and the cell numbers reached peak at the 30th day. At the 60th day, the intimal hyperplasia developed persistently, the stroma fibrocyte was increased and the endothelium recovered. Conclusions The transplant arteries were characterized by intimal denudation, inflammatory cell infiltration, media necrosis with the smooth muscle cell migration and intimal hyperplasia.