title: OKT3 monoclonal antibody in cardiac transplantation. Experience with 102 patients.
abstract: OKT3 is a murine monoclonal antibody that is reactive against the CD3 surface antigen on T lymphocytes. This antigen appears to be essential for recognition of foreign antigen and for initiation of the process of cell-mediated rejection. One hundred and two patients having orthotopic cardiac transplantation in a single program during a 3-year period received prophylactic immune suppression with OKT3, along with azathioprine and low-dose steroids. Patients began receiving cyclosporine on Day 11; steroid-weaning was attempted 3 weeks after transplantation. In this group of patients, the time to the first rejection was 76 +/- 11 days (mean +/- SEM), and 85% were successfully weaned from maintenance steroids. Avoidance of the side effects of cyclosporine and/or high dose steroids during the perioperative period, combined with a long rejection-free interval and the likelihood of long-term maintenance free of steroids, make the use of OKT3 or similar agents an attractive alternative to conventional immunosuppression.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D011292:Premedication; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D013256:Steroids