title: Basiliximab as therapy for acute rejection after liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus cirrhosis.
abstract: Steroid bolus therapy for acute rejection after liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis often results in graft loss due to adverse effects. The efficacy and safety of basiliximab for the treatment of acute cellular rejection (ACR) in adult liver transplantation has not been adequately evaluated. Three patients received basiliximab as rescue therapy for acute rejection. The outcome and biochemical parameters were recorded before and after treatment with basiliximab. These results were compared to 11 patients who received steroid therapy for ACR. The median time from transplantation to the development of ACR was 19 days (range, 9-49 days). The degree of ACR was mild or moderate. Resolution of rejection was obtained in all patients and the median time from the onset to resolution of ACR was 16 days (range, 6-41 days). A steroid resistant reaction occurred in 2 of 11 patients and OKT3 was used, and the rejection eventually resolved in all patients. Five patients died within 2 to 22 months after transplantation and four of them died from graft failure. In the basiliximab group, there were no significant immediate adverse effects. One patient died from pneumonia 8 months after transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basiliximab can be safely used as rescue therapy for ACR without significant adverse effects in patients who underwent liver transplantation for HCV cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Artificial Organ and Transplantation Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Togashi
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Sumihito
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Noriyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamashiki
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kokudo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab