Meta-analysis on the Safety and Efficacy of the Reperfusion Use of a Single High Dose of Anti-T-Lymphocyte Globulin Fresenius in Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single high dose of the anti-T-lymphocyte globulin Fresenius (ATG-F), given before kidney transplantation, on the prevention of acute rejection response and infections and on the survival rate of the renal graft and patient.

METHODS

Databases including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify randomized controlled trials relevant to studying the presurgical use of a single high dose of ATG-F.

RESULTS

Five RCTs that included 346 patients were selected. The meta-analysis suggested that the application of ATG-F reduced the postsurgical acute rejection reaction incidence compared to that of the control group (relative risk = 0.50, 95% confidence interval = 0.35-0.71, P = .0001). However, the application of ATG-F exhibited no significant effect on the incidence of urinary tract infection, cytomegalovirus infection, and delayed graft function. Furthermore, the one-year patient survival rate and kidney graft survival rate were not affected.

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis suggested that the reperfusion use of a single high dose (9 mg/kg) of ATG-F could effectively reduce the incidence of postsurgical acute rejection response without affecting the occurrence of infections, the survival rates of kidney grafts and patients, or the incidence of delayed graft function.