title: New trends in transplantation: the use of Thymoglobulin.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Zero Emerson, Boston, MA 02114, USA. kballen@partners.org
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ballen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C512542:thymoglobulin