CD3 monitoring of antithymocyte globulin therapy in thoracic organ transplantation.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-27-2002
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antithymocyte globulin is frequently used as a component of induction therapy in thoracic organ transplantation. This study evaluates the utility of monitoring peripheral CD3 lymphocytes to rationally adjust antithymocyte globulin therapy in this patient population.
METHODS: A total of 17 heart and 19 lung transplant recipients received antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM or thymoglobulin) as induction therapy or to treat steroid-resistant acute or chronic rejection. Absolute CD3 counts were maintained between 50 and 100 cells/microl.
RESULTS: With CD3 monitoring, the doses of antithymocyte globulin were reduced from 10-15 mg/kg to 1-5 mg/kg during the course of therapy. The total amount of antithymocyte globulin given to each CD3 monitored patient was reduced by 48%. Dose reduction did not alter the number of acute rejection or infectious episodes, and hematological side effects were infrequent.
CONCLUSION: CD3 monitoring of antithymocyte globulin therapy in thoracic organ recipients reduced the amount of drug received by each patient, while maintaining CD3 counts less than 100 cells/microl.
Volume
73
Issue
8
First Page
1339
Last Page
1341
ISSN
0041-1337
Published In/Presented At
Krasinskas, A. M., Kreisel, D., Acker, M. A., Bavaria, J. E., Pochettino, A., Kotloff, R. M., Arcasoy, S., Blumenthal, N., Kamoun, M., Moore, J. S., & Rosengard, B. R. (2002). CD3 monitoring of antithymocyte globulin therapy in thoracic organ transplantation. Transplantation, 73(8), 1339–1341. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007890-200204270-00026
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
11981432
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article