TABLE 3.

Histopathologic comparison of PBC and liver allograft rejection

	Acute rejection	Early PBC	Chronic rejection	Late PBC
Portal/septal inflammation
Intensity	+++	+++	+	++
Naturea	L, but mixed	L, G, P	L, P	L, P, G
Bile duct lesion
Presence	++	++	+++	+
Sizeb	S, M, L	M, S	S, M, L	M, S
Bile duct loss	0	0	+++	+++
Piecemeal necrosis	±	±	±	++
Cholangiolar proliferation	±	++	−	+
Cholestasisc	C	−	C	P, C
With copper deposition	None	None	None	+++
Arterial lesionsd	Inflammatory or necrotizing	None	SIFC, T	IS
Venous lesionse	SEL	None	SIFC, CVS	PVT

^aNature of inflammation: L = lymphocytic/monocytic; G = granulomatous; P = plasmacytic.

^bS = small (<50 µm); M = medium (≥75 µm); L = hilar excretory ducts. Listed in order of prevalence.

^cLocation of cholestasis: C = central; P = peripheral/paraseptal.

^dSIFC = subintimal foam cells; IS = intimal sclerosis; T = thrombosis.

^eSEL = subendothelial lymphocytes; CVS = central vein sclerosis; PVT = portal vein thrombi.