title: Histomorphological assessment of phlebitis in renal allografts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the histomorphological features of veins in normal and transplanted kidneys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1992 and 1997, we semiquantitatively evaluated histomorphological changes in veins in nephrectomy specimens of 29 renal allografts with rejection and in 31 control kidneys. The structure of different segments of renal veins was additionally analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Small interlobular veins were composed of endothelium and basement membrane, similar to capillaries, while the walls of large interlobular and arcuate veins had smooth muscle cell bundles forming the medial layer, similar to large extrarenal veins. In the control group, only focal mononuclear infiltration around small interlobular veins was found (8/31). In rejected kidney allografts, the veins were frequently infiltrated with inflammatory cells, predominantly T lymphocytes and macrophages (29/29). Other changes included thrombosis (16/29), fibrinoid necrosis (7/29), and sclerosis (9/29), and in one case an intimal lipid deposition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study, performed on whole explanted kidney specimens, revealed that rejection vasculitis often involved extrarenal and intrarenal veins, showing a whole spectrum of histopathological changes similar to those in arteries. Since large intrarenal veins have a muscle wall, we believe that the term "rejection phlebitis" could be used in renal transplant pathology.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Ljubljana University School of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jurcić
authors.forename: Jera
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeruc
authors.forename: Stela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marić
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferluga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000473:pathology*; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000473:pathology*