These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Remission induction in Behçet's disease following lymphocyte depletion by the anti-CD52 antibody CAMPATH 1-H.
    Author: Lockwood CM, Hale G, Waldman H, Jayne DR.
    Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford); 2003 Dec; 42(12):1539-44. PubMed ID: 12949252.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem vasculopathy of unknown cause with variable clinical presentation and the outcome of current treatments is often unsatisfactory. There is evidence for T-cell autoreactivity in BD and this study explores the therapeutic response to lymphocyte depletion with a humanized anti-CD52 antibody, CAMPATH-1H. METHODS: Eighteen patients with active BD received a single course of 134 mg of CAMPATH-1H. Immunosuppressives were withdrawn and prednisolone reduced according to clinical status. Treatment response was assessed by remission of clinical features of disease activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, prednisolone dose, the need for subsequent immunosuppressives and disease relapse. RESULTS: By 6 months, 13/18 (72%) had entered remission and average, daily prednisolone dose was reduced from 17.7 to 6.7 mg/day (P < 0.005). At patient follow-up after 37 (6-60) months, seven had relapsed after an average of 25 months, five had required the introduction of an immunosuppressive drug and two had been retreated with CAMPATH-1H; 10 were in stable remission and six were receiving no therapy. Moderate infusion-related adverse effects occurred in five and two developed hypothyroidism. Circulating CD4+ T cells fell to low levels after CAMPATH-1H and remained depressed for at least 1 yr; no opportunistic infections were seen. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic response to CAMPATH-1H suggests a central role for autoreactive lymphocytes in BD. The potential of CAMPATH-1H to induce sustained treatment-free remission in BD poorly controlled by conventional therapy requires further evaluation.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]