title: Anti-thymocyte globulins in kidney transplantation: focus on current indications and long-term immunological side effects.
abstract: Antithymocyte globulins (ATGs) are part of the immunosuppression arsenal currently used by clinicians to prevent or treat acute rejection in solid organ transplantation. ATG is a mixture of non-specific anti-lymphocyte immunoglobulins targeting not only T cell subsets but also several other immune and non-immune cells, rendering its precise immunoglobulin composition difficult to appreciate or to compare from one preparation to another. Furthermore, several mechanisms of action have been described. Taken together, this probably explains the efficacy and the side effects associated with this drug. Recent data suggest a long-term negative impact on allograft and patient outcomes, pointing out the need to better characterize the potential toxicity and the benefit-risk balance associated to this immunosuppressive therapy within large clinical trials.
authors: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Besançon, France.|UMR1098, Federation hospitalo-universitaire INCREASE, France.|Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de Franche-Comté, France.|Structure Fédérative de Recherche, SFR FED4234, France.
authors: Jamal
authors: J
authors: Bamoulid
authors: Department of Nephrology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Staeck
authors: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Besançon, France.|UMR1098, Federation hospitalo-universitaire INCREASE, France.|Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de Franche-Comté, France.|Structure Fédérative de Recherche, SFR FED4234, France.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Crépin
authors: Department of Nephrology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
authors: Fabian
authors: F
authors: Halleck
authors: UMR1098, Federation hospitalo-universitaire INCREASE, France.|Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de Franche-Comté, France.|Structure Fédérative de Recherche, SFR FED4234, France.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Saas
authors: Department of Nephrology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Brakemeier
authors: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Besançon, France.|UMR1098, Federation hospitalo-universitaire INCREASE, France.|Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de Franche-Comté, France.|Structure Fédérative de Recherche, SFR FED4234, France.
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Ducloux
authors: Department of Nephrology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
authors: Klemens
authors: K
authors: Budde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: ATG; immune cell reconstitution; kidney allograft survival; serum sickness disease; transplant outcomes