| abstract |
The invention relates to a method for treating or monitoring / diagnosing a disease state mediated by activated macrophages. The method comprises the step of administering to a patient suffering from a. macrophage-mediated disease status an effective amount of a composition comprising a conjugate or complex of the general formula: Ab-X, wherein the Ab group comprises a ligand capable of binding activated macrophages, and when the conjugate is used for treatment of the disease state, the group X comprises an immunogen, a cytotoxin or a compound capable of altering the function of macrophages, and when the conjugate is used to monitor / diagnose the disease state, X comprises an agent to produce an image . The method is useful for treating a patient suffering from a disease that is selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, inflammation, infections, osteomyelitis, atherosclerosis, organ transplant rejection, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis and systemic sclerosis. |