title: Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) induction in a pediatric heart transplant: successful outcome and rationale for its use.
abstract: Despite increasing clinical experience in adult transplantation, induction therapy with alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) has rarely been reported in pediatric solid-organ transplants, and has been limited to kidneys, intestine and multi-visceral organs. Basic science research and clinical observations reported from the adult experience suggest potential benefits of alemtuzumab in pediatric organ recipients. We report successful induction therapy with alemtuzumab and steroid-free maintenance therapy for cardiac transplantation in a teenager, and discuss its merits in this patient.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. bdas99@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bibhuti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shoemaker
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Recto
authors.forename: Erle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dowling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000187:drug effects; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab