ORTHOCLONE OKT3 in treatment of allografts rejected under cyclosporine-steroid therapy

ORTHOCLONE OKT3 in conjunction with cyclosporine and steroids appears to be an effective immunosuppressive combination in achieving reversal of renal and hepatic rejection. Long-term graft survival without excessive recurrent rejection episodes has been achieved

Use of OKT3 with ciclosporin and steroids for reversal of acute kidney and liver allograft rejection

OKT3 monoclonal antibody therapy was added to preexisting baseline immunosuppressive treatment with ciclosporin and steroids to treat rejection in 52 recipients of cadaveric livers and 10 recipients of cadaveric kidneys. Rejection was controlled in 75% of patients treated, often after high-dose steroid therapy had failed. Rejection recurred during the 17-month follow-up period, after completion of OKT3, in only 25% of the patients who had responded. The safety and effectiveness of this monoclonal therapy, added to ciclosporin and steroids, has been established in this study