title: The role of basiliximab induction therapy in adult-to-adult living-related transplantation and deceased donor liver transplantation: a comparative retrospective analysis of a single-center series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to report our single-center experience with the use of basiliximab, in combination with a steroid and tacrolimus-based regimen in adult to adult living-related liver transplantation (ALRLT) and in deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven consecutive ALRLT recipients (group 1) and 244 DDLT recipients (group 2) were analyzed. All patients received 2 20-mg doses of basiliximab (days 0 and 4 after transplantation) followed by tacrolimus (0.15 mg/kg/d; 10-15 ng/mL target trough levels) and a dose regimen of steroids. Follow-up ranged from 4-1972 days after transplantation in group 1 and from 1-2741 days in group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group 1, 89.32% of the patients remained rejection-free during follow-up, with an actuarial rejection-free probability of 93.51% within 3 months. Actuarial patient survival rate at 3 years was 84.49%. In group 2, 86.07% of the patients remained rejection-free during follow-up, with an actuarial rejection-free probability of 93.04% within 3 months. Actuarial patient survival rate at 3 years was 87.69%. We observed 14 cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence in group 1 (prevalence of 26.92%) and 80 cases in group 2 (prevalence of 54.05%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basiliximab in association with tacrolimus and steroids is effective in reducing episodes of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and increasing ACR-free survival after ALRLT and DDLT. No difference in patient and graft survival was found between group 1 and 2, nor was there any difference in the incidence of ACR between the 2 groups. However, less risk of HCV recurrence was present in the LRLT group.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Italy, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gruttadauria
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandalà
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petridis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cintorino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li Petri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Varotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minervini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Volpes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biondo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vizzini
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gridelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D002102:Cadaver; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005190:Family; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D019520:Living Donors; D011336:Probability; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab; D016559:Tacrolimus