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BACKGROUND A pilot study was performed to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of "low-dose" OKT3 induction after liver transplantation. METHODS Sixteen patients received a 5- to 10-day course of OKT3 (2.5 mg i.v. daily) along with azathioprine, prednisone, and the delayed introduction of cyclosporine (Neoral). RESULTS Patient and graft survival rates at 1 year were 88% and 82%. Five patients (31%) had biopsy-proven rejection; all five were treated successfully with steroids. There were 15 infections in 12 patients, including 5 cytomegalovirus infections. Adverse events attributed to OKT3 consisted of low-grade fever (five patients), transient hypoxemia (three patients), and transient hypotension (two patients). Pharmacy acquisition costs for OKT3 averaged $2,139 less as compared to a group of historical controls receiving full-dose therapy. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose OKT3 induction appears to be a safe and useful method of postoperative immunosuppression after liver transplantation. Its ultimate clinical, immunologic, and economic efficacy awaits determination by randomized trial.
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
January 1995,
The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
January 1994,
Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
January 1995,
Digestive diseases and sciences,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
November 1989,
Circulation,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
June 1998,
Transplantation proceedings,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
November 1997,
Liver transplantation and surgery : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
December 1992,
Transplantation proceedings,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
August 2003,
Clinical transplantation,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
February 1993,
Transplantation proceedings,
J F Whiting, and
A Fecteau, and
J Martin, and
P A Bejarano, and
D W Hanto
December 1994,
Transplantation science,
