New trends in transplantation: the use of Thymoglobulin.
BACKGROUND
Thymoglobulin (Genzyme Co., Cambridge, MA, USA), rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin, is an immunosuppressive drug approved for the treatment of renal transplant rejection.


OBJECTIVE
To review the pharmacology, toxicity and efficacy of Thymoglobulin in solid organ and stem cell transplantations.


METHODS
Review of the literature, information from Genzyme and personal clinical trial experience serve as sources for this review.


CONCLUSIONS
Thymoglobulin has helped to facilitate the growth of successful steroid sparing approaches to solid organ transplantation. Thymoglobulin is now incorporated into several stem cell transplantation approaches. Infection and second malignancies remain as concerns. Randomized trials are needed to compare efficacy with standard regimens.
Ballen
Karen
K
Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Zero Emerson, Boston, MA 02114, USA. kballen@partners.org
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C512542:thymoglobulin