title: Alemtuzumab (CAMPATH 1H) induction therapy in cadaveric kidney transplantation--efficacy and safety at five years.
abstract: Alemtuzumab is a powerful lymphocyte depleting antibody currently being evaluated in solid organ transplantation. This paper describes 5-year results of a single center study of alemtuzumab as induction in renal transplantation. Thirty-three renal transplant recipients received 20 mg alemtuzumab on day 0 and 1, followed by half-dose cyclosporin monotherapy (trough concentration 75-125 ng/mL) from day 3. They were compared in a retrospective contemporaneous-controlled manner with 66 kidney transplant recipients transplanted in the same period and center who received conventional immunosuppression with cyclosporin, azathioprine and prednisolone. In the alemtuzumab group 12% of recipients died compared to 17% in the control group (p = 0.48); likewise graft loss was similar in both groups (21% vs. 26%, respectively, p = 0.58). Incidence of acute rejection was also comparable at 5 years (31.5% vs. 33.6%), although the pattern of rejection was different with 14% patients in the alemtuzumab group experiencing rejection over 1 year post-transplant compared to none in the control group. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of infection or serious adverse events. While acknowledging the limitations of a relatively small single-center study, results suggest that alemtuzumab induction allowed satisfactory long-term patient and graft survival equivalent to that seen with standard triple immunosuppression, while avoiding steroid therapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, UK. cjew2@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Christopher J E
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: J Andrew
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Friend
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Firth
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Kenneth G C
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sathia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiru
authors.forename: Neville V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine