Use of polyclonal antilymphocytic preparations for prophylaxis in heart transplantation.

Polyclonal antilymphocytic preparations, heterologous antibodies to human lymphoid cells, have been administered to heart transplant recipients prophylactically in the immediate perioperative period to avert rejection. The current status of the three classes of polyclonal preparations (antilymphoblast globulins, antithymocyte globulins, and antithymocyte sera) and their clinical role for prophylaxis in heart transplantation are summarized.