Survival of primates in LD100 septic shock following therapy with antibody to tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha).

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of treatment with anti-TNF monoclonal antibody in preventing the deleterious effects of sepsis in a nonhuman primate. Experiments were carried out on anesthetized baboons intravenously infused with a lethal dose of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Twelve baboons (six control and six experimental) received 2 hr infusions of E. coli. The experimental group was administered a bolus of anti-TNF antibody, 15 mg/kg, 30 min after beginning the E. coli infusion. Control baboons lived an average of 19 hr (12-34 hr). All antibody-treated baboons survived more than 7 days with a significantly improved quality of life compared to the control group. Although some adverse changes occurred during the monitoring period in surviving baboons, they maintained nearly normal arterial pressures, and serum urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations. The severe histopathologic changes in lungs, liver, adrenals, kidneys, and spleen documented at death in baboons receiving E. coli only were absent after 7 days in baboons given E. coli and early post-treatment with antibody to TNF.