Comparative study of basiliximab treatment in lung transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the incidence of acute or chronic rejection and adverse events in lung transplant patients receiving induction basiliximab versus controls not receiving treatment.


METHODS
Basiliximab was administered to 15 patients with impaired renal function, advanced age, or high surgical risk, (group I). The mean age was 48.9 years; nine were double-lung and six single-lung grafts. They were compared to 13 lung transplants performed in 2001 (mean age 43.6 years, 11 double lung and two single lung [group II]).


RESULTS
The incidence of acute rejection was 13.3% in group I versus 38.5% in group II (P = .19, OR 4.06), with chronic rejection in 20% and 38.5% of cases, respectively (P = .4, OR 2.5). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of infections or malignancies. Nor were there any direct adverse events due to the administration of the drug. The estimated 2-year survival was 80% for group I and 54% for group II (P = .14).


CONCLUSIONS
Basiliximab has a trend to reduce the rate of acute and chronic rejection in lung transplant recipients, with no increased incidence of infections or malignancies. The 2-year survival for patients treated with basiliximab was better than the control group, despite including high risk transplant patients.
Borro
J M
JM
Juan Canalejo Hospital, La Coruña, Spain. jmborro@canalejo.org
De la Torre
M
M
Míguelez
C
C
Fernandez
R
R
Gonzalez
D
D
Lemos
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000145:classification; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab; D008775:Methylprednisolone