Short course induction immunosuppression with thymoglobulin for renal transplant recipients

Irfan A. Agha, Jose Rueda, Alejandro Alvarez, Gary G. Singer, Brent W. Miller, Karen Flavin, Jeffrey A. Lowell, Surendra Shenoy, Todd K. Howard, Venkataraman Ramachandran, William Irish, Mark A. Schnitzle, Daniel C. Brennan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)473-475
Number of pages3
JournalTransplantation
Volume73
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Transplantation

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