Induction therapy by anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) in renal transplantation: a 1-yr follow-up of safety and efficacy

BACKGROUND: Two hundred and forty cadaveric renal transplant recipients given anti-thymocyte globulin (Thymoglobulin) as induction immunotherapy were followed up prospectively to review safety and efficacy. METHODS: The median number of infusions was 10 [2-21] with a cumulative dose of 8.8 mg/kg [2.0-23.2 mg/kg]. During the fortnight following transplantation, 231 patients (96%) received a calcineurin inhibitor; all patients were given steroids and azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. At 1 yr, 60% of patients were on tripletherapy, 38% on bitherapy, and 2% on monotherapy; 20% had discontinued steroids. RESULTS: Tolerance was excellent with no cases of anaphylaxis. The commonest adverse event was fever (55%). Eighteen patients developed serum sickness on median day 11 [10-14]. Seven patients had thrombocytopenia; six patients had severe neutropenia. All of these adverse events recovered spontaneously. The overall incidence of delayed graft function was 24%. At 1 yr patient and graft survival were 98 and 95%, respectively, and creatinine was 135 +/- 43 micromol/L. Clinically suspected and biopsy-proven acute rejection were observed in 65 patients (27%) and 34 patients (14%), respectively. There were 62 non-cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections (two fatal) and 81 episodes of CMV infections. Eight malignancies were reported; two possibly related to immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that anti-thymocyte globulin has a safety profile with good tolerability and excellent efficacy.