Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018133 (graft-versus-host disease)
 18,032 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Infections with the paramyxoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus (PIV) can result in serious morbidity and mortality after haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Once pneumonia develops, the outcome of these infections is often poor despite anti-viral therapy. Aerosolised ribavirin has been evaluated as pre-emptive therapy for post-transplant RSV infections with some success. Due to the financial and logistic burden involved with the use of aerosolised ribavirin, we explored the efficacy and toxicity of oral ribavirin for pre-emptive therapy of post-transplant RSV and PIV infections in a dose escalating schedule (15-60 mg/kg/day). Five episodes each of RSV and PIV were treated in seven patients. Five patients were receiving treatment for GVHD and two acquired the infection in the pre-engraftment period. All the episodes of RSV infection improved with oral ribavirin with dose escalation to 30-45 mg/kg in three of them. On the other hand, only two of the five PIV infections improved with oral ribavirin. Of the three non-responders, two infections were acquired in the pre-engraftment period with one death from PIV pneumonia. Reversible anaemia was the only side-effect noted in patients treated for over 2 weeks. Thus, the use of oral ribavirin was well tolerated in the post-transplant period with no untoward toxicities. There was a trend towards better response in RSV infections, which needs to be further explored in controlled studies.
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PMID:Pre-emptive oral ribavirin therapy of paramyxovirus infections after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a pilot study. 1178 27

An update is provided on monoclonal antibodies (MAbs): concept, production, indications for the diagnosis and treatment of neoplastic diseases and autoimmune disorders, prevention of transplant rejection, and treatment of allergic diseases, autoimmune disease and other noninflammatory disorders such as coronary disease. Mention is also made of MAb use in the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. A more extensive account is provided of the use of MAb in B cell lymphomas (anti-CD20) and T cell leukemias (anti-IL-2 R). Likewise, mention is made of the use of MAbs in autoimmune disorders, such as anti-TNF-alfa in application to chronic arthritis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis, anti-C5 in the treatment of chronic arthritis, uveitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Anti-KT 3 MAb is used to treat acute rejection and graft versus host disease, while anti-IL-2 R alfa and anti-IL-2 R gamma are used for the prevention of acute transplant rejection. Anti-IgE MAb (omalizumab) is used to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis refractory to other treatments. Anti-L5 (mepolizumab), anti-IL-4, anti-TNF and anti-inflammatory cytokine mediator MAbs all have indications in asthma and severe allergic rhinitis, and in intense atopic dermatitis refractory to other treatments. As to the MAbs used for the prevention of RSV infection, mention is made of anti-epitope A of the F protein of the virus.
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PMID:Monoclonal antibodies in pediatrics: use in prevention and treatment. 1766 23