title: Induction versus noninduction therapy in kidney transplantation: considering different PRA levels and different induction therapies.
abstract: To evaluate the rate of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and long-term results in different levels of anti-HLA sensitization, using noninduction or different induction therapies, 763 patients who underwent transplantation from January 1995 to December 2001 were evaluated: 213 patients received induction therapy, 71 received Thymoglobulin (Thymo), 66 Simulect, and 44 OKT3. Follow-up time was at least 1 year for all groups. The Simulect group included older recipients and the OKT3 group had more female patients. Simulect and OKT3 groups had more black patients; Thymo and OKT3 groups had more retransplantations. PRA was low in the noninduction group (mean, 7%) and about the same in the Simulect and Thymo groups (mean, 30%). OKT3 was the most sensitized group (mean = 59%). Dialysis during the first posttransplantation week was more frequent among the induction groups (43% vs 65%; P <.005). Fewer patients experienced rejection episodes in the Thymo group (20% vs 50%; P =.02). Patients were classified according to their level of sensitization, and the Thymo group showed the lower rejection rates in all levels (mean, 20%; P =.001). When analyzing PRA >50%, the Thymo group showed lower rejection rates (12% vs 50%; P =.02). At this level of sensitization, there was no significant difference on graft loss and death with a functioning graft. There was a trend to more cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in the Thymo group (33% vs 23%; P =.08). Two PTLD were diagnosed, both in the noninduction group. Renal function was better in the Thymo group (1.3 mg/dL). In conclusion, Thymo showed lower ACR rates in all PRA groups. No significant differences in CMV infection, tumors, and patient survival were observed.
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation Unit, São Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. mcrc@usp.br
authors.forename: M C R
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: L M P
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Nahas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arap
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: David-Neto
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ianhez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007518:Isoantibodies