title: Unique antithymocyte serum versus OKT3 for induction immunotherapy after heart transplantation.
abstract: To determine the efficacy of a unique polyclonal rabbit antithymocyte serum (ATS), we compared 17 consecutive nonrandomized heart transplant recipients (mean age, 38 +/- 15 years) given a 7-day prophylactic postoperative course of locally produced ATS (whole serum, no Freund's adjuvant, IV) with 19 patients (mean age, 42 +/- 17 years) given 14 days of monoclonal antibody OKT3. Cyclosporine, steroid, and azathioprine dosages were similar. At 30 days the event-free incidence of rejection was 66% +/- 11% for OKT3 (2.3 events/100 patient-days) versus 47% +/- 12% for ATS (1.2 events/100 patient-days). At 60 days and thereafter, however, there was no difference in overall number of cumulative rejection episodes. Overall infection rates were similar in both groups: the ATS group tended to have more bacterial infections, whereas the OKT3 group displayed more viral infections. Antiidiotypic antibodies developed in 29% of the ATS group and in 22% of the OKT3 group. This report demonstrates the efficacy of this polyclonal serum preparation made without Freund's adjuvant when used as an adjunct for induction-prophylactic immunotherapy in heart transplant recipients when compared with OKT3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Frist
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Eastburn
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hammon
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bender
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D003524:Cyclosporins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone