Effect of Antilymphocyte Serum on Mortality of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Infected Rats

TRANSPLANTATION of kidneys and other organs have become a common procedure in many medical centers. The use of immunosuppressants has made this possible, but it is clear that immunosuppression can create a serious defect in host resistance which often results in death of the transplant recipient because of infection. 1 One of the newest and now widely used immunosuppressants is antilymphocyte serum (ALS). Though its exact mode of action is unknown, it is a powerful suppressant of the cellular response. Recent reports have shown ALS to act as an anti-inflammatory agent in response to certain chemicals 2,3 and bacterial antigens. 4 A definite increased susceptibility to a number of virus infections has been reported in animals treated with ALS leading to an increased morbidity and mortality. 5 Little is known about the effect of ALS on host resistance to infections of bacterial origin. This report deals with this subject and