[Differential diagnosis of transplant function disorders in therapy with monoclonal antibodies OKT3]

The use of OKT3 monoclonal antibodies has improved the immunosuppressive therapy. Due to the high efficiency of this treatment there is an increased risk of overimmunosuppression and occurrence of life-threatening viral infections. Therefore a cautious application of OKT3 is mandatory, a reliable differential diagnosis of the deteriorating graft function essential. In this study the high diagnostic value of urinary neopterin in the early and reliable diagnosis of CMV infection under OKT3 therapy in contrast to serum amyloid A as a marker of rejection could be shown. A differential therapy, supporting or reducing the immunosuppression, might be facilitated by daily monitoring of the neopterin and serum amyloid A.