[OKT3 treatment of refractory renal allograft rejection]

Between January 1993 and June 1996, 44 episodes of refractory renal allograft rejection were treated with OKT3 to understand the curative effect of OKT3. Six of 7 accelerated and 31 of 37 acute rejection episodes were reversed. The reverse rate was 84.6%. Immediate response to OKT3 was in 25 and delayed response in 12 patients. The mean reverse time was 7 +/- 4 days in immediate response and 34 +/- 3 days in delayed response (P < 0.01). It was claimed that OKT3 had high effect in the treatment of refractory renal allograft rejection. Cytomegalovirus infection and cytokins release syndrome were the main side effect of treatment with OKT3. The delayed response would be associated with cytokins release syndrome and damage of rejection. Patients with lower titre of anti-OKT3 antibodies could be retreated with OKT3.