title: Single-dose thymoglobulin induction in living-donor renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of Thymoglobulin induction therapy in living-donor renal transplantation remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate outcomes in living-related donor (LRD) and living unrelated donor (LURD) renal transplants with Thymoglobulin induction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed the outcome of all Thymoglobulin induced living-donor renal transplants performed at our centre from 2002 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed 100 living-donor renal transplants (LRD=60; LURD=40) who received thymoglobulin induction (single dose, 1.5 mg/kg bodyweight) with a mean follow-up of 52.6 ± 31.9 months. Although baseline characteristics of the LRD and LURD groups were similar, differences were noted for recipient age, gender, and HLA-matching. Overall, the estimated 5-year patient survival was 92% and graft survival, 83%. The 1- and 5-year patient survival rates were 97.4% and 90.7% for LRD and 98.3% and 92.2% for LURD (P=0.79), respectively. Cumulative graft survival (LRD vs. LURD) rates were 93% vs. 95% after 1 year and 80% vs. 88% after 5 years (P=0.53). Kidney graft function was comparable for both the groups. Acute rejection was observed in 17% LRD and 35% LURD patients (P=0.035). Further, 10% of the patients experienced delayed graft function (LRD 11% vs. LURD 8%; P=NS). Rates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (10%), polyomavirus infection (5%), malignancy (4%), and lymphoproliferative disorder (0%) were low, with no differences between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-dose thymoglobulin induction in living-donor renal transplantation was associated with high patient and graft survival without increasing the risk of infections or malignancy and without significant differences between LRD and LURD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Knappschafts-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. peter.schenker@rub.de
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schenker
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vonend
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jazra
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wunsch
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viebahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D019520:Living Donors; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; C512542:thymoglobulin