ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Deceased donor kidney transplants represent an important source of renal replacement for the 100 000 patients initiating hemodialysis annually. We compared the association of induction therapy, anti-thymocyte globulin [rabbit] (rATG) or basiliximab, with posttransplant rejection, graft and patient survival. METHODS: Using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, we identified patients that received deceased donor kidney transplants. The outcomes analyzed were 6- month rejection, 1-year rejection, patient survival and graft survival. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to understand the association of induction therapy and rejection. Cox-proportional hazards models were constructed to ascertain the association of choice of induction therapy with both patient and graft survival. RESULTS: Of 45 339 patients, 33 906 patients received rATG induction therapy and 11 433 patients received basiliximab induction therapy. The rATG group were younger (53.44 years vs 55.28 years, P < 0.001), more frequently female (58.74% male vs 66.08%, P < 0.001) and more frequently Black (34.78% vs 25.66%, p < 0.001) compared with patients in the basiliximab group. Rejection was more likely with basiliximab compared with rATG at 6 months(OR = 1.64, P < 0.001; 7.81% Basiliximab vs 5.23% rATG)and at 12 months (OR = 1.56, P < 0.001; 8.81% Basiliximab vs 6.31% rATG). Basiliximab induction therapy was associated with worse patient survival, (HR = 1.05, P = 0.017). Basiliximab induction therapy was associated with worse graft survival, (HR = 1.03, P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: The analysis of the national experience demonstrated favorable rejection, patient survival, and graft survival with rATG usage. Further prospective data are necessary to provide treatment recommendations.