EFFECTIVENESS OF A SECOND COURSE OF 0KT3 MONOCLONAL ANTI-T CELL ANTIBODY FOR TREATMENT OF RENAL ALLOGRAFT REJECTION

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A second course of OKT3 monoclonal anti-T cell antibody was given to 21 recipients of kidney transplants. Rejections reversed in 43% of patients in whom 95% of rejections had reversed with their initial OKT3 course. Reversal was highly dependent upon the timing of rejection, anti-OKT3 antibody production, and T cell CD3 modulation. Rejections treated greater than 90 days after transplantation were resistant to OKT3 reversal. High-titer anti-OKT3 antibodies prevented OKT-3 reversal of rejection, and effective CD3 (the cell surface target of OKT3) modulation was necessary for successful OKT3 reversal of rejection. Reexposure to OKT3 further stimulated anti-OKT3 antibody production and broadened the specificity of the antibodies produced. OKT3 can effectively and safely be used a second time for treatment of early T cell-mediated renal allograft rejections if high-titer anti-OKT3 antibodies have not been made.