Safety and Efficacy of Early Steroid Withdrawal with Thymoglobuline Induction in Kidney Transplantation.
- Author:
Young Woo CHANG
1
;
Kwan Tae PARK
;
Young Hoon KIM
;
Song Chul KIM
;
Hye Won SHIN
;
Duck Jong HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. djhan@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Kidney transplantation;
Steroid;
Early withdrawal;
Thymoglobuline
- MeSH:
Antilymphocyte Serum;
Creatinine;
Cyclosporine;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Immunosuppression;
Kidney;
Kidney Transplantation;
Mycophenolic Acid;
Rejection (Psychology);
Survival Rate;
Tacrolimus;
Tissue Donors;
Transplants
- From:The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation
2008;22(2):243-247
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: We report our experiences of early steroid withdrawal using thymoglobuline induction in kidney transplant patients to verify the efficacy and safety of steroid minimization protocol that can prevent long term complications of steroid. METHODS: From December 2002 to July 2007, 36 kidney transplants were performed at our institution using the steroid early withdrawal protocol with 5 doses induction of thymoglobuline (50 mg IV), and maintaining with tacrolimus/ cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/azathioprine. Control group was 80 kidney transplant recipients on conventional triple immunosuppression protocol without antibody induction. RESULTS: Donor and recipient's profiles in both groups were not different except more proportion of diabetic patients and immunosuppression using tacrolimus and MMF in PD free group. The rejection rate was 13.8% and 16.3% in PD free and PD groups respectively. Two years graft and patients survival rate were 96.4%/100% in PD free group and 97.5%/97.5% in PD group. Serum creatinine level was similar between the two groups and WBC count was lower in PD free group up to postoperative 6 months. 72.2% of PD free group remained steroid free by the last follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Early steroid withdrawal with thymoglobulin induction can be applied safely with acceptable success rate with minimizing adverse effects of steroid in kidney transplantation patients. But early steroid withdrawal protocol should be adopted cautiously in immunologically high risk patients.