title: Use of Thymoglobulin® (antithymocyte immunoglobulin) in renal transplantation: practical guide.
abstract: The combination of immunosuppressive drugs is part of the treatment regimen of patients undergoing kidney transplantation (RT). Thymoglobulin®, a rabbit immunoglobulin directed against human thymocytes, is the most commonly agent used for induction therapy in RT in the US. In Brazil, Thymoglobulin® is approved by ANVISA for the use in patients who underwent kidney transplantation and despite being widely used, there are controversies regarding the drug administration. We prepared a systematic review of the literature, evaluating studies that used Thymoglobulin® for induction and for acute rejection treatment in patients undergoing RT. The review used the computadorized databases of EMBASE, LILACS and MedLine. Data were extracted from the studies concerning general features, methodological characteristics and variables analyzed in each study. From the results, a practical guide was prepared analyzing various aspects on the use of Thymoglobulin® in patients submitted to RT.
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina Ribeiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.affiliation: São José Municipal Hospital.
authors.forename: Luciane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deboni
authors.affiliation: Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ronaldo de Matos
authors.initials: Rde M
authors.lastname: Esmeraldo
authors.affiliation: Centro Estadual de Transplantes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tereza Azevedo
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Matuk
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saitovitch
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Abrahão
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salomão
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helio Tedesco
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Silva Junior
authors.affiliation: Hospital Felicio Rocho, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villaça
mesh_terms: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C512542:thymoglobulin