title: Efficacy of anti-interleukin-2 receptor antibody (daclizumab) in reducing the incidence of acute rejection after renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute rejection remains a major problem in renal transplantation and represents one of the most important causes of chronic allograft dysfunction and late graft loss. Daclizumab is a genetically engineered human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the α chain of the interleukin-2 receptor, and may thus reduce the risk of rejection after renal transplantation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the effect of daclizumab induction therapy combined with a triple immunosuppressive protocol including prednisolone,cyclosporine microemulsion (CsA), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), in reducing the incidence of acute rejection in recipients of living unrelated donor kidneys.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this historical cohort study, 43 adult recipients of their first kidney allograft received daclizumab (three 1 mg/kg doses administered every 2 weeks) with triple immunosuppressive therapy (steroids, CsA, and MMF). This group was compared to 43 first-time graft recipients who received maintenance triple immunosuppressive therapy comprising steroids, CsA, and MMF. The end point was the incidence of biopsy confirmed acute rejection within 6 months after transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 months, 5 (11.6%) of the patients in the daclizumab group had biopsy-proven rejections, as compared to 14 (32.5%) in the control group (P = 0.017). The sex and the age of recipients had no impact on the incidence of acute rejection episodes in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adding interleukin-2 receptor antibody (daclizumab) to maintenance triple immunosuppressive therapy (prednisolone, CsA, and MMF) reduces the incidence of acute rejection episodes at 6 months in first-time transplant recipients of living unrelated donor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saghafi
authors.forename: Khosrow
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nobakht Haghighi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qoreishi
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Safdari
keywords: Daclizumab; Graft Rejection; Renal Transplantation