Histopathology of P2 and P4
(A–K) postmortem histopathology of P2 at 14 months.
(A) Normal thymic architecture; increased cortical tingible body macrophages consistent with a stress response (P2, hematoxylin and eosin [H&E] stain, original magnification × 100).
(B) Normal-appearing reactive lymph node with follicular hyperplasia (P2, H&E stain, original magnification × 40).
(C) Low-power view of the spleen showing expanded, congested red pulp with relatively reduced white pulp (P2, H&E stain, original magnification × 20).
(D) White pulp nodule containing a follicle with a reactive germinal centre, but no marginal zone hyperplasia, arising from a periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (P2, H&E stain, original magnification × 200).
(E) Immunohistochemistry for CD3 shows a normal distribution of CD3-positive T cells in a white pulp nodule (P2, Ventana Benchmark XT immunostainer, monoclonal antibody LN10, original magnification × 100).
(F) Immunohistochemistry for CD20 shows a normal distribution of CD20-positive B cells in a white pulp nodule (P2, Ventana Benchmark XT immunostainer, monoclonal antibody L26, original magnification × 100).
(G) Congested, disorganized red pulp containing increased neutrophils consistent with sepsis (P2, H&E stain, original magnification × 400).
(H) Disorganized reticulin staining pattern of splenic red pulp. Inset: “barrel hoop” arrangement of sinusoidal reticulin fibers in a normal control spleen (P2, Gordon and Sweet's reticulin stain, original magnification × 400).
(I) Immunohistochemistry for CD68 shows a haphazard arrangement of macrophages in the splenic red pulp. Inset: orderly distribution of cordal macrophages in a normal control spleen (P2, Ventana Benchmark XT immunostainer, monoclonal antibody PG-M1, original magnification × 400).
(J) Liver showing portal-portal linkage and expansion of portal tracts by a moderate chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate without interface activity (P2, H&E stain, original magnification × 100).
(K) Sirius red staining of liver shows collagen deposition (red) within portal-portal bridges. Elastin could also be demonstrated (not shown), consistent with established portal-portal fibrosis (P2, Sirius red and Fast green stain, original magnification × 100).
(L) Histopathology of P4 at 22 months. The liver shows mild expansion of portal tracts by a chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate but no bridging fibrosis (H&E stain, original magnification × 200).