OKT3 prophylaxis versus conventional drug therapy: single-center perspective, part of a multicenter trial.
As part of a collaborative study, Orthoclone OKT3 (Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, Raritan, NJ) monoclonal anti-T-cell antibody was used prophylactically for 14 days following cadaveric renal transplantation. Patients were randomized before treatment and compared with a control group treated with triple-drug immunosuppressant therapy consisting of cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone. The OKT3 group (also treated with prednisone and azathioprine) had significantly fewer patients with acute rejection during the first year (27% v 60%), significantly delayed onset of acute rejection (median number of days to rejection, 56 v 10), and shortened duration of delayed initial graft function (median number of days on nonfunction, 5.5 v 9.0). OKT3 was safely administered intraoperatively. The study group included diabetics and patients over the age of 50 years. There was an increased incidence of benign fungal infection in patients treated with OKT3. The outcome data of both the prophylactic and control groups in this single-center trial was different from the multicenter experience in that patient and graft survival was 100% in both groups. The only difference in the immunosuppressive protocol was the use of 2 g intravenous methylprednisolone intraoperatively. The combination of intraoperative OKT3 with 2 g methylprednisolone may merit further study. It was concluded that OKT3 prophylaxis reduces the incidence of rejection episodes, delays the occurrence of rejection, and may reduce the duration of delayed initial graft function. It is not associated with an increase in serious infection and can be administered safely to a variety of cadaver transplant recipients.
Kahana
L
L
Department of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa.
Narvarte
J
J
Ackermann
J
J
LeFor
W
W
Weinstein
S
S
Wright
C
C
deQuesada
A
A
Baxter
J
J
Shires
D
D
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D008775:Methylprednisolone