Monoclonal Antibodys

Bezlotoxumab is a monoclonal antibody that helps neutralize the toxin made by Clostridium Difficile. This monoclonal antibody isn’t an antibiotic, so it must be used along with antibiotics to treat a patient infected with C. difficile. Monoclonal antibodies are man-made in labs created to imitate the immune system. They are used in patients with autoimmune disorders to attack the proteins affecting normal tissues. These antibodies were injected into mice vaccinated with different antigens they wished to create antibodies against. Each monoclonal antibody only binds to one specific antigen. Bezlotoxumab is just one of many FDA approved monoclonal antibodies.

Bezlotoxumab, also known as Zinplava, binds to toxin B of C. difficile antigens neutralizing its effects. It binds to an epitope on toxin B that is said to be in most strains of C. difficile and neutralizes the pro-inflammatory affects. Pro-inflammatory cytokines can be harmful to the patient, especially when an overwhelming infection is present. C. difficile has two lethal toxins, toxin A and B. They disrupt the structure of target cells and lead to cell death. Toxin B is believed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of this antigen. Bezlotoxumab prevents toxin B from interacting with host receptors, not allowing self cells to be infected. This antibody has shown to prevent damage to the gut wall and an inflammatory response from occurring. Patients may seek treatment with this monoclonal antibody to prevent the infection from reoccurring. It is often used in patients over 18 years old that are at a high risk for the infection to come back. The antibody is used with antibiotics to help treat C. difficile, an infection that can be life threatening.

Bezlotoxumab has numerous side affects, however not all of them may occur. They are warning signals to the consumer that if any of these signs and symptoms appear, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The side effects include: back pain, chest pain, chest tightness, chills, decreased urine output, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, fever, flushing, headache, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, swelling of the face, fingers, feet or lower legs, tightness in the chest, troubled breathing, weakness, weight gain. Some of these side affects will not require medical attention and may go away once one’s body adjusts to the medication. Call your healthcare provider if any of the following side affects are continuous: bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at injection site. This antibody may cause worsening symptoms of C. difficile, including severe stomach pain and watery diarrhea. You must tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or have ever experienced heart failure in the past. The use of this antibody may make this condition worse. People with a history of congestive heart failure had a higher rate of heart failure and death.

C. difficile infections may be related to an inadequate immune response. The use of Bezlotoxumab enhances the immune responses. Inflammation that occurs when infected with C. difficile induces an innate immune response that starts an adaptive immune response to create memory cells. The quality of the humoral immune response is influential to a patient getting a C. difficile infection. The innate adaptive immune response is positively impacted since a patient already has antibodies against the antigen in their system.