Immunosuppressive agents antithymocyte globulin

Antithymocyte Globulin (See Lymphocyte Immune Globulin) [Immunosuppressive Agent]... 

The antithymocyte globulin (ATG) Fresenius S, produced in rabbits, is an example of a polyclonal antibody mixture used in immunosuppressive therapy in combination with other immunosuppressive agents (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisone) after organ transplantation. 

Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG, thymoglobulin) is a polyclonal rabbit antithymocyte globulin that has been used as an immunosuppressive agent in kidney and hver transplant patients. Despite a fairly high safety profile, reported side effects of ATG include hypertension, leucopenia and ARDS [109]. Renal adverse effects are extremely rare only two case reports describe the occurrence of acute renal failure in patients treated with ATG [110, 111]. Cessation of ATG therapy in both cases and plasmapheresis in one case resulted in full recovery. 

Indicated and approved for the management of allograft rejection in renal transplant patients, antithymocyte globulin preparations are purified immune globulins (primarily IgG) from horses or rabbits immunized with human thymus lymphocytes. The resultant globulin preparations contain cytotoxic antibodies to human T lymphocytes which function as an immunosuppressive agent. As well as its use for the treatment of renal transplant rejection, anti-thymocyte globulin may be administered as an adjunct to other immunosuppressive... 

When detected by biopsy, rejection is treated aggressively by increasing the level of immunosuppression and the dose of corticosteroids (Winkel et al. 1999). In severe cases, additional agents such as antithymocyte globulin, OKT3, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, vincristine, tacrolimus, rapamycin, or mycophenolate mofetil maybe required (Knisely... 

---