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C J Hesse

Publications and source records attributed to C J Hesse.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Single-shot, high-dose rabbit ATG for rejection prophylaxis after kidney transplantation.

We studied the effects of a single intravenous injection of rabbit ATG (RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands) in a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight administered 6 h after kidney transplantation on graft survival, rejection incidence, T-cell subsets, and cost-effectiveness. A total of 58 (37 male/21 female) consecutive renal allograft recipients were entered in this trial. Treatment results were compared with 56 patients treated with intravenous cyclosporin (CyA). In all patients concomitant medication consisted of steroids and azathioprine, followed by oral CyA. Following rabbit ATG, T cells (WT31) quickly disappeared from the peripheral blood and a return to greater than 100/mm3 was observed at a median of 7 (range 3-21) days. Graft survival was the same in both groups, as was the incidence of primary nonfunction. The rate of acute rejection was significantly lower in the rabbit ATG-treated patients (12% vs 50%). We conclude that a single shot of rabbit ATG is an attractive, easy, and cost-effective induction scheme with a low incidence of delayed graft function and acute rejection episodes. A relatively high incidence of vascular thrombosis of the graft, however, warrants further study before this treatment regimen can be generally applied.

Adolescent↗

Rejection prophylaxis with sequential OKT3 and CSA after kidney transplantation.

Sixteen kidney transplant recipients received the IgG2a anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody OKT3 and azathioprine as rejection prophylaxis during the first two postoperative weeks. Concomitant immunosuppression consisted of low dose steroids while cyclosporine A therapy was instituted on day 12. Side effects included fever, bronchospasm, hypotension and diarrhoea. OKT3 caused T cell modulation resulting in CD3 dim+, CD4+ or CD8+, CD5+, WT31- and 11F2- cells. Anti-OKT3 antibodies were found in approximately 50% of the patients. The protocol induced a 100% patient and graft survival and a 81% actuarial freedom of rejection at 18 months. It prevented CsA associated nephrotoxicity in the direct postoperative phase. These beneficial effects outweighed the side effects of OKT3.

Adult↗

Comparison of four different cyclosporine immunoassays in heart and kidney transplant recipients.

Four different immunoassays were used to measure cyclosporine A (CsA) plasma (20 degrees C) levels in heart and kidney transplant recipients. Two radioimmunoassays (RIAs) (Sandimmune and Cyclotrac) and the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) were based on polyclonal antibodies, whereas the fourth (Cyclotrac-SP) used a CsA-specific mouse monoclonal antibody. We found considerable differences in measured CsA concentrations, which were dependent on the method used and the clinical situation of the patient. Correlation coefficients between the nonspecific assays ranged from 0.899 to 0.901 with plasma values increasing in the order Sandimmune less than Cyclotrac less than FPIA. In the CsA-specific RIA, values were lower, and the correlation with the nonspecific assays ranged from 0.761 to 0.795. In the first 21 days posttransplantation, the heart transplant group showed a higher ratio of nonspecific/specific CsA (mean 4.0) compared with the subsequent period (mean 2.3) or with renal transplant recipients (mean 2.4). The TDX method showed the best assay characteristics. In heart transplant patients with specific and nonspecific 125I-RIA methods, mean CsA levels were 25% lower during rejection periods compared with periods without signs of rejection.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Metoprolol in high renin hypertension. A comparison with propranolol.

The effects of two beta-adrenoceptor blockers, the beta1-selective metoprolol and the non-selective propranolol, was studied in high renin patients (n = 15) with very high pretreatment blood pressures. Ten of the patients had essential hypertension and five renal artery stenosis. From high blood pressure values after six weeks on placebo, there was a pronounced drop in both supine and standing blood pressures in both groups with a small to moderate dose of beta-blocker, thus showing that the good blood pressure control in high renin patients is not connected to blockade of beta2-receptors or to the aetiology of the hypertension. In patients with essential hypertension who were treated with metoprolol, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.66, n = 10) was also found between the fall in blood pressure and the fall in plasma renin activity. Values for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) before and after treatment were unchanged throughout the whole spectrum of GFR from those values indicating substantially decreased kidney function up to normal values.

Adult↗

Intragraft monitoring of rejection after prophylactic treatment with monoclonal anti-interleukin-2 receptor antibody (BT563) in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies have been used successfully in the prevention of rejection in cardiac allografts in several animal models. METHODS: In an open randomized study murine monoclonal CD3 antibody and BT563, a murine anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody, were given as rejection prophylaxis during the first week after heart transplantation. Cyclosporine therapy was initiated at the third postoperative day. RESULTS: In half the BT563-treated patients an early rejection was histologically shown at week 1, whereas heart transplant recipients treated with murine monoclonal CD3 antibody had a rejection incidence at week 1 of only 9%. During BT563 treatment CD25-positive cells (i.e., cells bearing the interleukin-2 receptor) were not detectable in peripheral blood. However, immunohistologic studies of endomyocardial biopsy specimens taken 1 week after transplantation showed the presence of CD25-positive cells within these specimens in 8 of 10 (80%) of patients with rejection. In patients without rejection CD25-positive cells were present in the biopsy specimens of only two of nine patients (22%). Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction studies on biopsy material showed the presence of messenger RNA for the interleukin-2 receptor in all and for interleukin-2 in three of five (60%) of biopsy specimens of rejecting grafts. CONCLUSIONS: Although CD25-positive cells were not detectable in peripheral blood during BT563 treatment, these cells were at the same time found to be present within 80% of the endomyocardial biopsy specimens from the rejecting grafts. By initiating cyclosporine treatment at day 0, the synergistic effect of combining cyclosporine and anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies may result in a lower rejection incidence.

Animals↗