Abstract
Sixteen kidney transplant recipients received the IgG2a anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody OKT3 and azathioprine as rejection prophylaxis during the first two postoperative weeks. Concomitant immunosuppression consisted of low dose steroids while cyclosporine A therapy was instituted on day 12. Side effects included fever, bronchospasm, hypotension and diarrhoea. OKT3 caused T cell modulation resulting in CD3 dim +, CD4+ or CD8+, CD5+, WT31− and 11F2−cells. Anti-OKT3 antibodies were found in approximately 50% of the patients. The protocol induced a 100% patient and graft survival and a 81% actuarial freedom of rejection at 18 months. It prevented CsA associated nephrotoxicity in the direct postoperative phase.
These beneficial effects outweighed the side effects of OKT3.
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Weimar, W., Hesse, C.J., Vaessen, L.M.B. et al. Rejection prophylaxis with sequential OKT3 and CSA after kidney transplantation. Biotherapy 2, 267–270 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02173528
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02173528