title: Intestinal transplantation under tacrolimus monotherapy after perioperative lymphoid depletion with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (thymoglobulin).
abstract: Modifications in the timing and dosage of immunosuppression can ameliorate the morbidity and mortality that has prevented widespread use of intestinal transplantation (ITx) in children. Thirty-six patients receiving ITx, aged 5 months to 20 years were given 2-3 mg(kg of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG, thymoglobulin) just before ITx, and 2-3 mg(kg postoperatively (total 5 mg(kg). Twice daily doses of tacrolimus (TAC) were begun enterally within 24 h after graft reperfusion with reduction of dose quantity or frequency after 3 months. Prednisone or other agents were given to treat breakthrough rejection. After 8-28 months follow-up (mean 15.8 +/- 5.3), 1- and 2-year patient and graft survival is 100% and 94%, respectively. Despite a 44% incidence of acute rejection in the first month, 16 of the 34 (47%) survivors are on TAC (n = 14) or sirolimus (n = 2) monotherapy; 15 receive TAC plus low dose prednisone; one each receive TAC plus sirolimus, TAC plus azathioprine and TAC plus sirolimus and prednisone. There was a low incidence of immunosuppression-related complications. This strategy of immunosuppression minimized maintenance TAC exposure, facilitated the long-term control of rejection, decreased the incidence of opportunistic infections, and resulted in a high rate of patient and graft survival.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: George V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Mazariegos
authors.forename: Kareem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abu-Elmagd
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Geoffrey J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sindhi
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Starzl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D007422:Intestines / Q000637:transplantation*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone; D016559:Tacrolimus