Use of rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin in cadaver kidney transplantation. Preliminary experiences.
Rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin was given as an adjunctive immunosuppressive agent to 23 recipients of cadaver kidneys in the immediate 14 day post-transplantation period. A drastic reduction in the number of T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was recorded and there was a very low frequency (13%) of early, acute rejection episodes. Two to 8 months after transplantation 13 of 14 patients (93%) below 55 years of age survive with a functioning graft. Among 9 older recipients, the patient and graft survival was 56 and 33% and 4 of the patients died with septic complications. It is concluded that the elderly patients were over-immunosuppressed and we will no longer use RATG in this patient category.
D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011817:Rabbits
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents