Use of OKT3 monoclonal antibody as induction therapy for control of rejection in liver transplantation

Dig Dis Sci. 1995 Jan;40(1):52-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02063941.

Abstract

This report details a single center's experience with OKT3 induction immunosuppression for liver transplantation. One hundred ninety-nine consecutive, unselected adult liver recipients received OKT3 therapy for 9-10 days combined with low-dose steroids and azathioprine. Cyclosporine was begun to overlap with the last few days of OKT3 therapy. The average dose of OKT3 was 45 mg. Fifty-two patients (26.1%) experienced 57 episodes of acute rejection. The median time of onset of rejection was 18 days after grafting. Seventy-eight percent of the rejection episodes were steroid-sensitive. Recurrent rejection was uncommon and the need for OKT3 retreatment was infrequent. One year actuarial graft and patient survival was 79.7% and 82.3% respectively. Based on this evidence, it appears that OKT3 prophylaxis provides good control of acute rejection with a very low incidence of recurrent rejection.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / drug therapy
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Liver Transplantation* / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muromonab-CD3 / therapeutic use*
  • Recurrence
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Muromonab-CD3
  • Cyclosporine