title: Radioimmune assay of heterologous serum gamma-globulin in patients receiving rabbit antihuman thymocyte globulin.
abstract: A radioimmune assay (RIA) method for detecting heterologous serum rabbit gamma-globulin (RG) and antibody to this protein is described. The methodology is used for monitoring serum levels of rabbit globulin in patients receiving rabbit ATG (RATG). In 7 cardiac recipients receiving RATG, maximum serum levels of RG were achieved 1-3 days after administration of final dose. RG half-life subsequent to peak serum levels was rapid (X = 36 hr) in 4 patients and prolonged (X = 18 days) in 3 patients. Patient antibody to rabbit gamma-globulin was detectable only in those patients with short RG half-life. Antirabbit antibody titers in these patients were extremely low and barely detectable by RIA.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015478:Antigens, Heterophile / Q000032:analysis*; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012756:Sheep; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000941:Antigens; D015478:Antigens, Heterophile; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D005719:gamma-Globulins