Patient's Guide to Heart Transplant Surgery

OKT3

OKT3 is a "mouse monoclonal" antibody that works to prevent or to treat rejection. OKT3 may be used right after your transplant, if your kidneys are not functioning optimally, so that you do not need to take cyclosporine, thus allowing your kidneys to rest period before beginning cyclosporine. OKT3 may be also used to treat moderate to severe rejection episodes unresponsive to "conventional" therapy.

A side effect of cyclosporine can be high blood pressure. Antihypertensive medications are used to lower your blood pressure. Often, antihypertensive are used in combination with other medications to reach a blood pressure that is right for you.

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