Corel Medical Series: Cancer/Corel Medical Series: Cancer.iso/mac/Program/p08.dxr/00068_Field_SRC.p08.A.18.txt

Text File | 1997-01-28 | 1KB | 12 lines

  However, it is possible to achieve responses with low dosages of IL-2. Patients receiving such low dosages do
  not require hospital admission, and can sometimes continue working part time.
• Antitumor antibodies—polyclonal or monoclonal—can cause an allergic reaction varying from a mild skin rash,
  coughing and wheezing to an acute and severe reaction called anaphylaxis. With a full-blown anaphylactic
  reaction, blood pressure drops, various parts of the body swell, a severe skin rash breaks out and breathing can
  become difficult. This reaction can be fatal unless it is treated promptly with epinephrine and corticosteroids.
      The possibility of allergic reactions to antibodies (or to any foreign substance) increases markedly with
  every additional injection, because eventually you become immunized against the foreign molecules. Your
  immune system will rapidly destroy these molecules, with the allergic reaction being a sign of your immune
  cells' increased activity.
• The side effects of antibodies vary with their target. An antibody aimed at a colon antigen may cause diarrhea.
  One directed against white blood cells will cause low white blood cell counts.