Organ transplantation globulin

Antisera directed against lymphocytes have been prepared sporadically for over 100 years. With the advent of human organ transplantation as a therapeutic option, heterologous antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) took on new importance. ALG and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) are now in clinical use in many medical centers, especially in transplantation programs. The antiserum is usually obtained by immunization of large animals such as horses or sheep with human lymphoid cells. 

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. 

Lymphocyte immune-, anti -thymocyte-globulin (Atgam) Horse IgG antibodies which selectively suppress T-lymphocytes (cell-mediated immunity) and humoral immunity. Prevention of organ transplant rejection, aplastic anemia. Fever, chills, leukopenia, throm -bocytopenia, skin reactions. Less often arthralgia, chest or back pain, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, headache, night sweats (serum sickness). 

Vaccines Yes. Wyeth Vaccine, called VIG or vaccinia immune globulin, one dose by scarification. (Pre- and post-exposure vaccination recommended if greater than three years passed since last vaccine.) Persons who are pregnant, have clinical immunosuppression (such as persons who have undergone heart and other transplant operations and take medicines to control rejection of their new, transplanted organ), eczema, and/or leukemia/ lymphoma would be contraindicated for such vaccine. As one example, the fatality rate for immunosuppressed persons taking such vaccine could be as high as 75 percent or more. 

Anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG) has been prepared as an highly purified solution of y-globulins with antilymphocyte activity by immunizing horses with human lymphocytes. It activates complement-mediated destruction of lymphocytes and thus decreases cellular immunity with only a limited effect on humoral immunity. Anti-lymphocyte globulin suppresses delayed type hypersensitivity reactions. It is used for the prevention and treatment of rejection episodes of transplanted organs. It also has some indication for the management of idiopathic aplastic anemia. Adverse effects include pain at the site of injection, erythema, serum sickness and rarely anaphylactic shock and thrombocytopenia. 

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