title: Effective monitoring and modulation of immune reactivity in allograft recipients.
abstract: This study demonstrates that current techniques of immune monitoring and modulation are available, which have potential to reduce early cadaver allograft loss from rejection to 5% or less. The techniques center on the monitoring of T lymphocyte levels and T lymphocyte reactivity, using relatively simple and reproducible assays, which give results within 4-72 hrs, depending upon the tests used. In addition, these techniques include modulation of T cell levels and reactivity using quality-controlled anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) in low doses during the post-transplant period. High potency ATG demonstrates a significant capability of preventing early (3 mos) graft rejection, as well as maintaining low levels and reactivity of T cells for 3 mos or longer, when intermittent low dose therapy is utilized. Evidence is presented that ATG has a relatively selective effect on T lymphocytes and this may result in a degree of selective immunosuppression not achieved in clinical transplantation to date.
mesh_terms: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D037102:Lectins; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone