Induction immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients older than 60 years of age : safety and efficacy of ATGAM, OKT3 and Simulect.
BACKGROUND
The choice of induction immunosuppression for kidney transplantation in elderly recipients is dictated by the consideration of the risk of infection as well as efficacy in the prevention of acute rejection, thus allowing a reduction in subsequent maintenance immunosuppression and its attendant long-term adverse effects.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and safety of the antibody induction immunosuppression strategies in elderly recipients of kidney transplants.


METHODS
We present retrospective data analysis on 183 kidney transplant recipients > or = 60 years of age at Hahnemann University Hospital (Philadelphia, PA, USA) over a 12-year period. We compared four consecutive cohorts of kidney transplant recipients receiving lymphocyte immune globulin, equine antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM) [n = 29]; muromonab CD3 (OKT3) [n = 45]; basiliximab (Simulect) with corticosteroid maintenance [n = 40]; and Simulect without corticosteroid maintenance (n = 69).


RESULTS
Delayed graft function (DGF) was observed in 48% of patients receiving ATGAM, 35.6% in the OKT3 group and 35% in the Simulect group with corticosteroid maintenance and 36.2% in the Simulect group without corticosteroid maintenance. The rejection rate within the first 3 months was 31% in the ATGAM and OKT3 groups, 17.5% in the Simulect group with corticosteroid maintenance and 14.5% in the Simulect group without corticosteroid maintenance. These differences for DGF and acute rejection were statistically significant between patients receiving ATGAM and OKT3, ATGAM or OKT3 and both groups of Simulect (all p < 0.05). Patients receiving Simulect were free of adverse effects typically encountered by patients receiving polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for induction. Patients receiving Simulect had much shorter hospital stays and benefited from significant reduction of costs compared with other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that kidney transplant recipients > or = 60 years of age benefit from induction therapy with Simulect followed by corticosteroid-free maintenance immunosuppression.
Heifets
Michael
M
Hahnemann University Hospital, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Saeed
Muhammad I
MI
Parikh
Mitten H
MH
Sierka
Debra
D
Kumar
Mysore S A
MS
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077552:Basiliximab; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab