title: Basiliximab: efficacy and safety evaluation in kidney transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basiliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R). When administered intravenously at a dosage of 20 mg at the time of transplantation and 4 days later, basiliximab saturates the alpha chain of IL-2R for 4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review evaluates the efficacy and safety of basiliximab in kidney transplantation. Randomized controlled trials showed that basiliximab can significantly reduce the incidence of acute rejection without increasing the risk of adverse events. When compared with other antibodies used for induction, basiliximab showed efficacy and safety profiles similar to daclizumab, another monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha chain of IL-2R. In comparison with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulins (rATG), basiliximab showed a similar efficacy. However, in patients at higher risk of rejection, rATG proved to be more effective. No serious safety problems related to basiliximab have been reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a solid evidence that basiliximab can significantly decrease the risk of acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients without increasing adverse events. This can allow decreased dosage or avoidance of glucocorticoids and reduced dosage of calcineurin inhibitors. On the basis of efficacy, tolerability, ease of administration, and cost effectiveness, basiliximab may be considered the drug of choice for the prophylaxis of acute rejection in standard renal transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute Humanitas, Division of Nephrology , Rozzano, CP, via Ampere 126, 20131 Milano , Italy +0226112952 ; ponticelli.claudio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponticelli
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab