Steroid- and ATG-resistant rejection after double forearm transplantation responds to Campath-1H.

ABSTRACT

We herein report on immunological and histological observations in the first bilateral forearm transplant recipient. The last of three rejection episodes occurring on day 95 after transplantation was resistant to steroid and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment. Histology demonstrated lymphocytic infiltrates, apoptotic and necrotic keratinocytes and focal desquamation of the epidermis. Therapy with Campath-1H, however, resulted in complete restitution of normal skin. This is the first report on a successful rescue therapy with Campath-1H in a severe, steroid- and ATG-resistant rejection. Hence, Campath-1H treatment might be a novel and powerful therapeutic option for multiresistant allograft rejection.