Basiliximab induction in patients receiving tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimens.
OBJECTIVE
The use of basiliximab induction increased significantly in recent years based on its superior efficacy and excellent safety profile demonstrated in studies with cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. However, its clinical utility in patients receiving tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimens is still uncertain.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed data of 366 low immunological risk recipients of deceased donor kidney transplants. Of them, 134 received basiliximab and tacrolimus (TAC-IL2-RA), 100 received basiliximab and delayed tacrolimus(dTAC-IL2-RA), and 132 patients received tacrolimus without basiliximab(TAC-No). The endpoints were the incidence of acute rejection, graft function, and patient and graft survivals at 1 year.


RESULTS
The incidence of acute rejection was higher in dTAC-IL2-RA compared to TAC-IL-2RA and TAC-No Groups (33 vs.14.9 vs. 14.3 %, p < 0.001). Inferior creatinine clearance was observed in dTAC-IL2-RA Group compared to TAC-IL2-RA and TAC-No Groups at months 1 (41.6 vs. 49.9 vs. 44.8 mL/min, p = 0.004), 3 (49.8 vs. 57.2 vs. 53.5 mL/min, p = 0.017), and 6 (53.1 vs. 61.8 vs. 57.0 mL/min, p = 0.001). Patients who received basiliximab (TAC-IL2-RA and dTAC-IL2-RA Groups) had lower incidence of posttransplant diabetes (24 vs.18 vs. 39.3 %, p = 0.009). Patient and graft survivals were similar among the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In low immunological risk kidney transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus, the use of basiliximab induction was not associated with lower rejection rates and did not allow delayed tacrolimus introduction.
Hospital do Rim e Hipertensão, Nephrology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Borges Lagoa, 960, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP 04038-002, Brazil. taina.sandes@gmail.com
Tainá Veras
TV
de Sandes-Freitas
Cláudia Rosso
CR
Felipe
Marcello Fabiano
MF
de Franco
Hélio
H
Tedesco-Silva
José Osmar
JO
Medina-Pestana
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab; D016559:Tacrolimus