title: Efficacy of alemtuzumab in organ transplantation: current clinical status.
abstract: An overview of the past 5 years of clinical renal transplantation would include progress in (i) the development of protocols with new induction agents (non-depleting versus depleting monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies) designed to reduce the incidence and severity of acute rejection, (ii) the attempt to reduce calcineurin inhibitor short- and long-term nephrotoxicity, and (iii) the attempt to reduce immunosuppression overall if an immunoregulatory state ('tolerance') against donor alloantigens could be achieved. One such induction agent is the humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab (Campath-1H), which depletes T cells (most potently), as well as B cells and other lymphoid subsets, and may decrease the dosage or need for concurrent maintenance immunosuppressive agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA. gciancio@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciancio
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Warque
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab