Campath IH allows low-dose cyclosporine monotherapy in 31 cadaveric renal allograft recipients.
BACKGROUND
Campath 1H is a depleting, humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody that has now been used in 31 renal allograft recipients. The results have been very encouraging and are presented herein.


METHODS
Campath 1H was administered, intravenously, in a dose of 20 mg, on day 0 and day 1 after renal transplant. Low-dose cyclosporine (Neoral) was then initiated at 72 hr after transplant. These patients were maintained on low-dose monotherapy with cyclosporine.


RESULTS
At present, the mean follow-up is 21 months (range: 15-28 months). All but one patient are alive and 29 have intact functioning grafts. There have been six separate episodes of steroid-responsive rejection. One patient has had a recurrence of her original disease. Two patients have suffered from opportunistic infections, which responded to therapy. One patient has died secondary to ischemic cardiac failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Campath 1H has resulted in acceptable outcomes in this group of renal allograft recipients. This novel therapy is of equal efficacy compared to conventional triple therapy, but allows the patient to be steroid-free and to be maintained on very-low-dose immunosuppressive monotherapy.
Calne
R
R
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Clinical School, United Kingdom.
Moffatt
S D
SD
Friend
P J
PJ
Jamieson
N V
NV
Bradley
J A
JA
Hale
G
G
Firth
J
J
Bradley
J
J
Smith
K G
KG
Waldmann
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003404:Creatinine