title: Daclizumab in the induction phase of immunosuppression in heart transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute rejection episodes negatively effect both short-term survival and development of graft vasculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the incidence and severity of acute rejection episodes under a new protocol using a monoclonal antibody daclizumab in the induction phase of immunosuppressive therapy. The study group B (26 patients) was given daclizumab (1 mg/kg), the control group A (25 patients) was treated without daclizumab. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the important data. A total of first 10 EMB in every patient was classified according to the ISHLT recommendation. We also analysed the incidence of infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the first two months there was a significant lower incidence and/or severity of rejection episodes in the daclizumab group with p < or = 0.0016, 0.001 and 0.005 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Induction therapy with daclizumab significantly reduces the incidence of acute rejection episodes during the first two posttransplant months in heart transplant recipients. It does not increase the risk of infection.
authors.affiliation: Center of Cardiovascular and Transplant Surgery, Brno, Czech Republic. erik.petr@post.cz
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrikovits
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bedanova
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Necas
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Studenik
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000077561:Daclizumab; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000077561:Daclizumab