title: A randomized prospective trial of prophylactic immunosuppression with ATG-fresenius versus OKT3 after renal transplantation.
abstract: We carried out a randomized prospective trial to compare OKT3 (5 mg/d, 51 patients) with ATG-Fresenius (ATG-F, 4 mg/kg/d, 53 patients) for induction therapy after renal transplantation, concerning side effects, rejection, and infection incidence within a one year follow-up period. Concomitant immunosuppression included azathioprine/steroids from day 0 and cyclosporine A from day 4. OKT3 patients experienced significantly more and more-severe side effects, particularly pyrexia, headache, and pulmonary fluid overload. One-year graft survival was excellent in the ATG-F group (91%), but only 78% in the OKT3 group (P < 0.05) due to a series of rejections that occurred beyond day 100; patient survival (96% and 92%) was similar in both groups. OKT3-treated patients experienced more biopsy-proven rejections (0.6 +/- 0.1/pt.) than ATG-F patients (0.3 +/- 0.1, P < 0.05), and there was a similar, albeit not significant trend in clinical rejections (OKT3: 1.1 +/- 0.2/pt.; ATG-F: 0.8 +/- 0.1/pt.). Infections were more common in the OKT3 group (OKT3: 3.2 +/- 0.3, ATG-F: 2.0 +/- 0.2, P < 0.05), although this was entirely attributable to "minor" infections. On days 1 through 6, CD3 counts were more profoundly depressed with OKT3 therapy. Beyond day 10, however, CD3 counts were lower in the ATG-F group, as were CD2 counts, CD4 counts, and the CD4/CD8 ratio, suggesting a more prolonged immunosuppressive effect of ATG-F. Sensitization occurred more frequently with OKT3 (31%) than with ATG-F (10%), but was usually irrelevant, except in two patients (one in each group), whose grafts were lost because of immunization against OKT3 and ATG-F, respectively. In conclusion, a 7-day induction therapy with OKT3 does not improve outcome or diminish immunological graft loss when compared with ATG-F, but is associated with more rejections, infections, and side effects. ATG-F appears to be preferable for induction immunosuppression after renal transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gallati
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zürcher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bachofen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mihatsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Landmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D016853:Muromonab-CD3