An overview of the use of the monoclonal antibody OKT3 in renal transplantation.

The murine monoclonal anti-T cell antibody, OKT3, has been used during the past 6 years in various clinical transplantation studies. Undoubtedly it has proved to be the most effective and specific immunosuppressive drug widely available for use in organ transplantation. However, because of problems of first-dose symptoms, recurrent rejection, and antibody production, currently used protocols with OKT3 might not be the final answer in immunosuppressive therapy. OKT3 is an important prototype of future monoclonal antibodies and can be considered the gold standard against which newer drugs must be compared.