title: Monitoring immune function during tacrolimus tapering in small bowel transplant recipients.
abstract: Long term use of immunosuppressants impacts the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of infection and malignancy. To effectively reduce immunosuppression in a transplant recipient a tool is needed to directly monitor the level of immune function. The Cylex(R) Immune Cell Function Assay, approved by the FDA for the assessment of cell-mediated immunity, shows promise as an objective measure of a transplant recipient's immune function. In a blinded retrospective study, the immune function was compared to clinical courses and histological examinations of biopsies of 20 small bowel transplant recipients during periods of immunosuppressant tapering. Eight patients with no major adverse events or changes of immunosuppressive therapy had moderate to low immune function and were categorized as immunologically and clinically stable. Twelve patients displaying strong immune responses were immunologically and clinically volatile requiring addition of steroids and or OKT3. Results validate the clinical utility of the Cylex Immune Cell Function Assay as an objective tool for assessing immune function. By evaluating immune function, physicians now can identify those patients who are candidates for minimization of immunosuppressant therapy, manage the timing and rate of immunosuppressant weaning and be forewarned of increased patient risk.
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplant Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Division of Transplant Surgery, Biomedical Science Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeevi
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Britz
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bentlejewski
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guaspari
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: Clyde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zak
authors.forename: Dolly
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Diane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Kareem Abu
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Elmagd
mesh_terms: D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus