Antithymocyte Globulin: Indiscriminate Use and Complications

ABSTRACT: The safety profile of rATG is impressive, with its use in 40% of inductions in living donor transplants in the US, with a reduced incidence of acute rejection, a low incidence of CMV infections with universal prophylaxis and enabling steroid sparing regimes.

Keywords: Graft Rejection, Immunosuppressive Agents, Kidney Transplantation, Antilymphocyte Serum

References

1. Bayraktar A, Catma Y, Akyildiz A, Infectious complications of induction therapies in kidney transplantation: Ann Transplant, 2019; 24; 412-17, pmid: 31296835

2. Reusing JO, Feitosa EB, Agena F, CMV prophylaxis in seropositive renal transplant recipients receiving Thymoglobulin induction therapy: Outcome and risk factors for late CMV disease: Transpl Infect Dis, 2018; 20; e12929, pmid: 29809309

3. Gaber AO, Monaco AP, Russell JA, Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (Thymoglobulin) 25 years and new frontiers in solid organ transplantation and hematology: Drugs, 2010; 70; 691-732, pmid: 20394456

4. Gaber AO, Matas AJ, Henry ML, Antithymocyte globulin induction in living donor renal transplant recipients: final report of the TAILOR registry: Transplantation, 2012; 94(4); 331-37, pmid: 22850297

5. Hardinger KL, Schnitzler MA, Koch MJ, Thymoglobulin induction is safe and effective in live-donor renal transplantation: A single center experience: Transplantation, 2006; 81; 1285-90, pmid: 16699456

6. Mohty M, Bacigalupo A, Saliba F, New directions for rabbit antithymocyte globulin in solid organ transplants, stem cell transplants and autoimmunity: Drugs, 2014; 74(14); 1605-34, pmid: 25164240

7. Brennan DC, Daller JA, Lake KD, Rabbit antithymocyte globulin versus basiliximab in renal transplantation: N Engl J Med, 2006; 355; 167

8. : Scientific registry of transplant recipients Available at http://www.ustransplant.org

9. Goggins WC, Pascual MA, Powelson JA, A prospective, randomized clinical trial of intraoperative versus post-operative thymoglobulin in adult cadaveric renal transplant recipients: Transplantation, 2003; 76(5); 798-802, pmid: 14501856