General Principles

• Many liver transplant recipients are maintained on minimal immunosuppression. Acute rejection typically occurs within the first 3 months after transplant and often in the first 2 weeks after the operation. Acute rejection in the liver is generally reversible and does not portend as serious adverse outcomes as in other organs. Recurrent viral hepatitis is a much more frequent and morbid problem.
• Liver transplant recipients commonly experience acute allograft rejection, with at least 60% having one episode.