The rabbit-derived anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG/ThymoglobulineÒ) is currently the most commonly used drug in induction therapy regimens in kidney transplantation worldwide.
Objective: Success rate in the survival of the renal graft and adverse effects at one year with Thymoglobuline as inducer in the immediate post-transplant.
Material and Methods: In a retrospective cohort of post-transplant kidney patients who received Thymoglobuline as induction, 12 months were followed. We include recipients of a related live donor, unrelated and deceased. We obtained information about accumulated dose, cytopenias, renal function, rejection, adverse effect, modification of maintenance immunosuppression due to leukopenia, lymphoproliferative disorders, bacterial, mycotic and viral infections as well as graft and patient survival.
Results: We included 165 kidney transplant recipients, 38.7% related live donor, 30.9% unrelated live, 30.3% deceased. The cumulative dose of Thymoglobuline was 5.3 ± 1.61 mg / kg. Absence of rejection 92.72% at 12 months, 7.27% presented rejection and graft loss 0.6% of the population. Serious adverse effects to Thymoglobuline 1.2%. Thrombocytopenia 26.06%, 95.34% grade 1 (114.01 ± 0.20 cells / mm3). Leukopenia 7 days 8.4%, most grade 1 (92.8%) average 3.48 ± 0.28 cells / mm3, at 3 months in 33.93% grade 1 in 50 % 3.60 ± 0.21 cells / mm3, severe 1.78%. No patient had lymphoproliferative disease and 53.93% bacterial infections.
Conclusions: The use of rATG as post-transplant induction therapy has an excellent success rate with 95.9% patient survival and 95.4% of the graft per year, a lower rejection rate of 7.27%, with few adverse effects and none serious.