Short course induction immunosuppression with thymoglobulin for renal transplant recipients
Agha, I.A.; Rueda, J.; Alvarez, A.; Singer, G.G.; Miller, B.W.; Flavin, K.; Lowell, J.A.; Shenoy, S.; Howard, T.K.; Ramachandran, V.; Irish, W.; Schnitzle, M.A.; Brennan, D.C.
Transplantation 73(3): 473-475
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-1337 PMID: 11884948 Document Number: 547102
Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that 3-days of induction immunosuppression with thymoglobulin was as effective and safe as a 7-day course and reduced initial hospitalization after transplantation. Methods: This was a prospective, nonrandomized trial of 40 consecutive patients receiving thymoglobulin induction for 3 days and followed for 1 year. An historical group of 48 patients that received 7 days of thymoglobulin served as controls. Results: At 1 year, acute rejection (5 vs. 4%), graft survival (95vs. 98%) and patient survival were similar; a composite end point of freedom from death, rejection, or graft loss, the event-free graft survival, was similar as was the safety profile. In the 3-day group, lymphocyte depletion was more sustained and initial hospitalization was significantly shorter (6 vs. 8 days). Conclusion: Three-day induction with thymoglobulin is as effective and safe as seven days, decreases initial hospitalization and causes more sustained lymphocyte depletion.