Basiliximab versus rabbit antithymocyte globulin as induction therapy for living-related renal transplantation: a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To compare the long-term effects of the interleukin-2 receptor antagonist basiliximab versus rabbit antithymocyte globulin as an induction therapy for living-related renal transplantation.

METHODS: This is a prospective, open-label, nonrandomized, controlled study including 213 cases of renal transplant. Immunosuppressive therapy containing calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids was applied in all cases. The interleukin-2 receptor antagonist group (IL2Ra group) included 108 cases with 20 mg basiliximab induction on Day 0 and Day 4. The other 105 cases comprised the rabbit antithymocyte globulin group (rATG group) with 1.0 mg/kg/day ATG induction from Day 0 to Day 4. The primary endpoint was biopsy-proven acute rejection. Other endpoints included delayed graft function (DGF), graft loss and death.

RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 3 years. Acute rejection rates in the IL2Ra group and the ATG group were 5.6 and 3.8 % (P = 0.781), and the differences in the DGF rates, graft loss and death were insignificant between groups. All-cause infection rates in the IL2Ra and rATG groups were 26.9 and 43.8 % (P = 0.010). Urinary tract infections were more common in the rATG group than in the IL2Ra group (15.2 vs 6.5 %, P = 0.040). Specific viral infection rates were significantly different (18.1 % in rATG group vs 8.3 % in IL2Ra group, P = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS: IL2Ra and rATG had no significant differences as induction therapies during the perioperative period of living-related renal transplantation, according to acute rejection rates, DGF rates, graft loss, 1- and 3-year patient/graft survival rates. However, the incidence of infection, especially of urinary tract infection and specific viral infection, was higher in rATG-induced patients.