Prophylactic immunosuppression with anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody LO-Tact-1 versus OKT3 in liver allografting. A two-year follow-up study

A prospective trial was conducted in 129 recipients of primary liver transplantation, to compare induction immunosuppression using triple drug therapy (cyclosporine, steroids, and azathioprine; group 1, n=42), versus triple drug therapy with a 10-day course of OKT3 (group 2, n=44) or of the anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody LO-Tact-1 (group 3, n=43). Two-year actual patient survival rates were 64%, 79%, and 93% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (1 vs. 2, NS; I vs. III, P=0.003; 2 vs. 3, NS). Up to 2 years after transplantation, 18%, 44%, and 53% of the grafts in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, had not experienced steroid-resistant acute rejection (1 vs. 2, P=0.002; 1 vs. 3, P=0.007; 2 vs. 3, NS). The overall incidence of chronic rejection was 4%. OKT3 therapy, but not LO-Tact-1, significantly increased the incidence of cytomegalovirus infections (P=0.019). In conclusion, immunoprophylaxis with LO-Tact-1 seemed to provide a liver graft acceptance rate at least as satisfactory as that with OKT3, without an increase in the incidence of infections.