CME on Transplantation is dedicated to online CME conferences, courses and presentations (slides with voice over) on transplantation, given by local and international experts. Its mission is to keep you up-to-date with the most recent developments on transplantation.
Presentation
"Campath-1H in Patients with Delayed Graft Function: Reduced Rejection and Improved Graft Survival" Stuart J. Knechtle (biography) English - 2004-05-18 - 25 minutes
(26 slides)
Summary : Alemtuzumab (Campath®) is a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD52 that is found predominantly on lymphocytes and has recently been approved in the US for the treatment of lymphocytic leukemias. Dr. Knechtle and his team at the University of Wisconsin – Madison are among the few groups who have had some experience with alemtuzumab as induction therapy in renal transplantation in off-label studies.
In this presentation, Dr. Knechtle reviews the origins, structure, and mechanism of action of alemtuzumab. With particular reference to his own group’s work, Dr. Knechtle presents the results of early trials of alemtuzumab-induction. The benefit of alemtuzumab-induction in preventing acute rejection and promoting graft and patient survival, as well as the safety of alemtuzumab-based induction regimens are discussed.
Dr. Knechtle addresses the future place of alemtuzumab within the immunosuppressive armamentarium, with particular reference to steroid- and calcineurin inhibitor-sparing strategies and to certain patient subpopulations.
Learning objectives : After viewing this presentation, participants will be able to discuss:
• The structure and mechanism of action of alemtuzumab (Campath®)
• The results of early studies of alemtuzumab-induction with different maintenance regimens
• How alemtuzumab-induction compares to other induction-regimens
• The potential future role of alemtuzumab in steroid- and calcineurin inhibitor-sparing regimens
• The benefits of alemtuzumab-induction in specific renal transplant subpopulations
