Use of Thymoglobulin^®(antithymocyte immunoglobulin) in renal transplantation: practical guide

Abstract

The combination of immunosuppressive drugs is part of the treatment regimen of patients undergoing kidney transplantation (RT). Thymoglobulin®, a rabbit immunoglobulin directed against human thymocytes, is the most commonly agent used for induction therapy in RT in the US. In Brazil, Thymoglobulin® is approved by ANVISA for the use in patients who underwent kidney transplantation and despite being widely used, there are controversies regarding the drug administration. We prepared a systematic review of the literature, evaluating studies that used Thymoglobulin® for induction and for acute rejection treatment in patients undergoing RT. The review used the computadorized databases of EMBASE, LILACS and MedLine. Data were extracted from the studies concerning general features, methodological characteristics and variables analyzed in each study. From the results, a practical guide was prepared analyzing various aspects on the use of Thymoglobulin® in patients submitted to RT.

Evaluation of the 1000 renal transplants carried out at the University Hospital of the Botucatu Medical School (HCFMB) - UNESP and their evolution over the years

“…In the multivariate analysis, the variable associated with a better renal outcome was induction therapy (basiliximab or thymoglobulin use), as previously demonstrated in this study, 20 and similar results were found by de Castro et al 21 …”