title: OKT3 rescue therapy in pancreas-allograft rejection.
abstract: OKT3 has emerged as a highly effective antirejection therapy, but its efficacy in pancreas transplantation remains to be determined. During a 26-mo period, 46 vascularized pancreas transplants were performed with pancreaticoduodenocystostomy. Twenty-one patients (45.7%) were treated with OKT3. Indications for OKT3 use included steroid- and/or antilymphoblast globulin-resistant rejection in isolated-pancreas transplant (n = 8) or simultaneous pancreas-kidney-transplant (n = 13) recipients. A total of 46 rejection episodes occurred (mean 2.2). OKT3 was administered for a 14-day course concomitant with pulsed corticosteroids, azathioprine, and cyclosporin. OKT3 rescue therapy was successful in 13 cases (61.9%). The mean time to rejection reversal was 8.8 days (range 5-14 days). In isolated-pancreas transplants, OKT3 reversed only 1 episode of rejection (12.5%). In contrast, 12 episodes (92.3%) of allograft rejection were responsive to OKT3 in simultaneous pancreas-kidney recipients (P less than .05). Graft loss from rejection occurred at a mean 5.5 mo posttransplantation. OKT3 therapy was more successful in the setting of early rejection, rejection in combined pancreas-kidney transplants, and rejection not associated with hyperglycemia. No graft loss due to infection or patient death has occurred after OKT3 therapy. After a mean follow-up of 17.3 mo, patient survival was 89.1%, and allograft survival was 26.3% in isolated-pancreas and 85.2% in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants (P less than .05). Salvage therapy with OKT3 is a safe and effective means of reversing rejection in pancreas-allograft recipients. OKT3 is more effective in simultaneous pancreas-kidney recipients due to the earlier diagnosis of rejection.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Madison.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stratta
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Sollinger
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pirsch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalayoglu
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Belzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017252:CD3 Complex; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D003524:Cyclosporins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone