Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0032285 (pneumonia)
 54,520 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We compared the infections encountered in 23 renal transplant patients given the monoclonal anti-T-cell antibody, Orthoclone OKT3 (OKT3), for treatment of steroid-resistant rejection in 1986 and in 23 control patients from 1984 to 1985 with resistant rejection matched demographically, for severity of rejection and for risk factors predisposing to infection, who did not receive OKT3; recipients of OKT3 received substantially less prednisone, cyclosporine, and antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) than control patients for treatment of the rejection episode. Fourteen (61%) patients given OKT3 developed one or more infections in the 3-month period following treatment as compared with 9 control patients (39%) given conventional antirejection therapy with high-dose steroids and, usually, ALG. Patients given OKT3 were significantly more likely to develop serious infections (pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, or severe viral infection; 16 episodes vs. 4, P = .02). Six recipients of OKT3 (26%) acquired infections typically encountered in states associated with depressed cell-mediated immunity (CMI)--Listeria sepsis (2), disseminated nocardiosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (1), cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia (1), Yersinia infection with severe dermatophytosis (1), and Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative syndrome (1)--as compared with 1 case of mild CMV infection in the control group (P = .08). Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) was given to 19 patients in each group; all 4 recipients of OKT3 who did not receive TMP-SMZ prophylaxis developed life-threatening infection, 3, bacteremia (2 with Listeria) and 1, disseminated nocardiosis and M tuberculosis infection. These data suggest that OKT3 given for treatment of resistant rejection in renal transplantation predisposes the patient to serious infection, particularly with opportunistic pathogens characteristically associated with depressed cell-mediated immunity. Prophylaxis with TMP-SMZ, which is safe, well tolerated, and effective for reducing the incidence of infection in renal transplantation, may be especially important during OKT3 therapy.
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PMID:Increased infections associated with the use of OKT3 for treatment of steroid-resistant rejection in renal transplantation. 327 66

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of muromonal-CD3 (Orthoclone OKT3) in the treatment of acute lung rejection. Criteria for its administration were (1) steroid-resistant acute rejection, (2) first-line therapy for grade III or higher acute rejection, and (3) second relapse after tapering off steroid treatment of acute rejection. During the period between May 1990 and May 1992, 41 patients had a total of 101 episodes of acute rejection. OKT3 (5 mg/kg for 7 to 10 days) was administered to 28 patients, of whom 19 responded (68%). Nine patients had either nonresponsive episodes or relapses immediately after completion of OKT3 therapy. Age, gender, cytomegalovirus status, underlying diseases, and type of procedure did not influence the outcome. Timing of OKT3 administration, however, was important; 16 (89%) of 18 patients responded to OKT3 therapy when administered during the first 6 months after transplantation, whereas 3 (30%) of 10 patients responded only beyond 6 months (p < 0.01). Infectious complications occurred after six treatments (21%), in which high-dose steroids were used concurrently (three Aspergillus, two Pseudomonas, and one cytomegalovirus pneumonia). Two patients also taking high-dose steroids had lymphoproliferative disorders. Three allergic reactions developed: one case of edema, one case of hypotension, and one case of arthralgia-myalgia syndrome. Serum antibody titers against OKT3 were persistently negative despite repeat (up to four times) therapy. We conclude that OKT3 is an effective and relatively safe therapy for steroid-resistant, high-grade, or relapsing acute lung rejection during the first 6 months. Antimicrobial prophylaxis must be considered when OKT3 is administered.
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PMID:Efficacy of OKT3 therapy for acute rejection in isolated lung transplantation. 806 Oct 29