Anti-endotoxin monoclonal antibodies

Article Abstract:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering approval of the E5 and HA-1A monoclonal antibodies for treatment of patients who have sepsis (bacterial infection of the tissues and blood). E5 and HA-1A are antibodies that remove endotoxin, a toxin in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, from the blood. E5 is produced from mice; HA-1A is produced from human cells. E5 binds endotoxin, but the ability of HA-1A to bind endotoxin has not been established. E5 only minimally protected sheep and mice from the complications of sepsis. The results of research studies that used HA-1A to protect animals from sepsis are questionable. E5 improved the survival of a small group of patients infected with gram negative bacteria who were not in shock in one clinical study, but not in a second. HA-1A improved survival of patients infected with gram negative bacteria in one well-designed study, but the accuracy and breadth of the results are shaky. HA-1A helped only one small subgroup and the statistical significance is borderline. These antibodies need more study before the FDA approves them as sepsis treatments.

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Anti-endotoxin monoclonal antibodies - a second look

Article Abstract:

Half the patients with sepsis (bacterial infection of the tissues and blood) have infections caused by gram negative bacteria, and half of those have bacteria in their blood. Even sepsis patients treated with the right antibiotics can have serious complications or die. Other drugs are sometimes combined with antibiotics, but most are ineffective. Endotoxin, a toxin in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, triggers an immune response that may cause serious complications. One research study found that sepsis patients treated with mixtures of antibodies that remove endotoxin had better survival rates. Two other studies showed that treatment with monoclonal antibodies (single antibodies that attack endotoxin) also improved survival of sepsis patients. These results have not been confirmed; only a small percentage of sepsis patients seem to be helped with the very expensive monoclonal antibody treatment. If the Food and Drug Administration approves these antibodies for patient treatment, physicians have two options: to not use the antibodies, or to use them on sepsis patients who clearly would benefit.

Editorial

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Acute bronchitis

Article Abstract:

Acute bronchitis is a medical term for the self-limited inflammation of the large airways of the lung, characterized by cough without pneumonia and is caused mostly by viruses like coronavirus, adenovirus and rhinovirus. Various methods for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease are found that vary widely with the virus causing the infection, which in turn varies largely with the presence of an epidemic, the season of the year and the influenza vaccination taken by the people.

Care and treatment, Diagnosis, Virus diseases, Bronchitis, Disease/Disorder overview

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