Volume 72 Number 4 July 2005	back to contents

From the 1Division of Gastroenterology, and 2the Immunobiology Center and Division of Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Address all correspondence to Lloyd Mayer, M.D., Immunobiology Center, Box 1089, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One East 100th Street, New York, NY 10029; e-mail: lloyd.mayer@mssm.edu

Adam Cheifetz, M.D., is currently at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA.

Adapted from a Grand Rounds presentation to the Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY on March 25, 2003, and updated as of February 2005.

Abstract

The increasing use of monoclonal antibodies as treatment modalities for a number of immune mediated and malignant diseases has yielded great promise. In using this approach, however, we have encountered problems, in terms of infusion reactions. Two forms of reactions have been identified: acute and delayed; they appear to be related to the presence of antibodies to the monoclonal antibodies (against murine or human components). The reactions are largely not anaphylactic (IgE mediated), making it possible to re-treat patients using specific protocols. These protocols are detailed in this overview.

KEYWORDS

Monoclonal antibody, inflammatory bowel disease, infusion reactions, infliximab.

MSSM Home

Back Issues | Indexes | Search | Journal Home