title: Effect of oral pentoxyfylline on the OKT3-induced cytokine-release syndrome among renal allograft recipients.
abstract: Recent data suggest that pentoxyfylline administration results in a significant reduction in serum TNF levels among OKT3-treated patients. However, the effect of pentoxyfylline on the clinical syndrome that ensues following OKT3 administration remains undefined. We evaluated 32 OKT3-treated renal transplant recipients to assess the impact of pentoxyfylline on OKT3 adverse reactions. The study population consisted of two groups: (i) a prospective group comprising 16 patients who received oral pentoxyfylline 600 mg 1-2 h prior to the first dose of OKT3 and then 600 mg every 8 h for 72 h, in addition to corticosteroids, acetaminophen and diphenhydramine, and (ii) an historical control group (n = 16) treated with corticosteroids, acetaminophen and diphenhydramine alone. All patients were evaluated for signs and symptoms consistent with the OKT3-induced cytokine-release syndrome. The incidence and clinical severity of OKT3-related adverse reactions were similar among the two groups. We conclude that oral administration of pentoxyfylline does not appear to affect the incidence or severity of OKT3-related adverse reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pollak
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013577:Syndrome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D010431:Pentoxifylline