Short-term outcomes of Thymoglobulin induction in paediatric renal transplant recipients

Bettina H. Ault, Marsha R. Honaker, A. Osama Gaber, Deborah P. Jones, Benjamin T. Duhart, Sandra L. Powell, Dena W. Hays, Robert J. Wyatt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

No data are currently available that describe the clinical outcomes associated with Thymoglobulin (rabbit polyclonal anti-thymocyte globulin) induction in pediatric renal transplant recipients. We report the outcomes of 17 pediatric renal transplant recipients (mean age 10.1±5.2 years) transplanted between 1 August 1999 and 31 July 2001. Eleven patients (65%) were Caucasian and 6 (35%) were African-American. Eleven (65%) recipients received cadaveric allografts. Two patients (12%) were second allograft recipients. One patient had primary allograft non-function secondary to vascular thrombosis. Two patients (12%) had delayed allograft function. Immunosuppression consisted of Thymoglobulin induction (mean number of doses 6±1.7) with tacrolimus (62%) or cyclosporine A (38%), mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone. One year post transplant, patient and graft survival was 100% and 93%, respectively. No acute rejection episodes occurred during the first 6 months after transplantation in any of the recipients. Additionally, no rejection episode occurred among the 14 patients followed for 1 year after transplant. The incidences of asymptomatic cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seroconversion at 1 year in seronegative recipients with a seropositive donor were 100% of 4 patients and 0% of 4 patients, respectively. No symptomatic CMV or EBV infections and no post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease have occurred in any patient. These short-term data suggest that Thymogobulin induction is safe and effective in combination with triple immunosuppressive therapy for preventing early rejection in pediatric renal transplant recipient.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)815-818
Number of pages4
JournalPediatric Nephrology
Volume17
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2002

Keywords

  • Acute rejection
  • Induction therapy
  • Renal transplantation
  • Thymoglobulin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nephrology
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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