Monitoring of T lymphocyte subset during ATG induction therapy in hand allograft with report of 3 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of T lymphocyte subset determination during antithymocyte globulin (ATG) induction therapy in reducing the total drug dose, incidence of complications and cost of treatment in hand allograft. METHODS: The changes in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD28) were determined by flow cytometry in 3 cases of hand allograft who received ATG treatment. RESULTS: Flow cytometry showed that the percentages of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes, along with the ratio of CD4/CD8, decreased significantly during ATG induction therapy, and the results were consistent in the 3 cases. Long-term continuous changes of peripheral blood lymphocytes were observed after antithymocyte globulin induction therapy. CONCLUSION: The understanding of the immunological state of the patient with hand allograft after ATG induction therapy by monitoring T lymphocyte subsets may allow adjustment of the total dose of the drugs administered and help prevent the occurrence of complications.