title: Early outcomes using alemtuzumab induction in lung transplantation.
abstract: Immunosuppressive regimens for lung transplantation frequently fail to prevent rejection and are toxic. Alemtuzumab was used as induction to investigate whether oral immunosuppression could be reduced. From November 2006 to March 2008, 20 consecutive lung transplant patients received alemtuzumab induction, with reduced maintenance immunosuppression; tacrolimus (target level 10 ng/ml), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) 250 mg bid and prednisone 7.5 mg. Twenty control cases transplanted before 2006 were treated with standard immunosuppression; tacrolimus (target level 10 ng/ml), MMF 750 mg bid and prednisone 15 mg qd. End-points included patient and graft survival, acute rejection (AR) and infection rate. There were no significant differences in six-month and 12-month survival (alemtuzumab 90% vs. controls 95%, P=0.52 and 76% vs. 95%, respectively, P=0.19). AR events were similar (alemtuzumab 2/16 vs. controls 5/20, P=0.43) - as were - bacteria positive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures (alemtuzumab 4.9+/-7.3 per patient per year vs. controls 2.7+/-3.3, P=0.26) and viral or fungal infections (alemtuzumab 0.4+/-1.4 per patient per year vs. controls 0.1+/-0.3, P=0.87; alemtuzumab 3.9+/-6.6 vs. controls 2.3+/-1.9, P=0.57, respectively). Alemtuzumab induction and reduced immunosuppression appears to offer comparable early survival, rejection and infection rates to high-dose standard immunosuppression.
authors: Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Keetie C J
authors: KC
authors: van Loenhout
authors: Soleyah C
authors: SC
authors: Groves
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Galazka
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Sherman
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Britt
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Garcia
authors: Bartley
authors: B
authors: Griffith
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Iacono
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007902:Length of Stay; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011241:Prednisone; D016559:Tacrolimus