Open AccessOKT3 Monoclonal Antibody in Cardiac Transplantation
Author(s) -
William A. Gay,
JOHN G. OʼCONNELL,
Nelson A. Burton,
Shreekanth V. Karwande,
Dale G. Renlund,
Michael R. Bristow
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-198809000-00005
Subject(s) - medicine , immunosuppression , azathioprine , monoclonal antibody , transplantation , antigen , perioperative , immune system , immunology , weaning , lung transplantation , antibody , surgery , gastroenterology , disease
OKT3 is a murine monoclonal antibody that is reactive against the CD3 surface antigen on T lymphocytes. This antigen appears to be essential for recognition of foreign antigen and for initiation of the process of cell-mediated rejection. One hundred and two patients having orthotopic cardiac transplantation in a single program during a 3-year period received prophylactic immune suppression with OKT3, along with azathioprine and low-dose steroids. Patients began receiving cyclosporine on Day 11; steroid-weaning was attempted 3 weeks after transplantation. In this group of patients, the time to the first rejection was 76 +/- 11 days (mean +/- SEM), and 85% were successfully weaned from maintenance steroids. Avoidance of the side effects of cyclosporine and/or high dose steroids during the perioperative period, combined with a long rejection-free interval and the likelihood of long-term maintenance free of steroids, make the use of OKT3 or similar agents an attractive alternative to conventional immunosuppression.