title: Improved xenograft survival with continuous infusion deoxyspergualin and RATG.
abstract: The critical shortage of available donor organs is the major limit to current allogeneic transplantation. Xenografting has the potential to overcome this difficult problem. Suppressing the vigorous rejection response remains a major obstacle to the clinical application of xenografting, 15-Deoxyspergualin (DOSP), a potent new immunosuppressive agent has been shown to be effective in allogeneic and xenogeneic experimental models. This study tests DOSP in combination with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (RATG) in the hamster-to-rat cardiac xenograft. Results show that combination therapy with DOSP/RATG was superior to treatment with either agent alone (p less than .05). Optimal graft prolongation (20.9 days versus control of 3.1 days, p less than .05) was achieved with combination therapy of RATG and DOSP 2.5 mg/kg day-1 by continuous infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeMasi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Araneda
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nifong
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006224:Cricetinae; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006146:Guanidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D006146:Guanidines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C037258:gusperimus