Efficacy and Safety of Basiliximab Versus Daclizumab in Kidney Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-2 receptor antagonists (IL-2RAs) have been extensively used in kidney transplant patients to prevent the occurrence of acute rejection. The efficacy and safety of basiliximab and daclizumab, the 2 most commonly used IL-2RAs in clinics, have been compared in a number of randomized controlled trials, but no definite conclusions have been drawn. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of basiliximab and daclizumab in kidney transplant patients. METHODS: We performed keyword searches in Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane library. In total, 6 randomized controlled trials with 509 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Data collected included patient survival, graft survival, acute rejection, infection, and cytomegalovirus infection. The outcome measure was the relative risk of basiliximab versus daclizumab. RESULTS: Therapy with basiliximab and daclizumab resulted in similar outcomes regarding acute rejection (6-month 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-1.14; 12-month 95% CI, 0.53-1.91), patient survival (95% CI, 0.97-1.04), graft survival (95% CI, 0.98-1.08), infection (95% CI, 0.66-1.01), and cytomegalovirus infection (95% CI, 0.45-1.14) within the follow-up period. There were no significant differences in safety and efficacy between the 2 drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The safety and efficacy of daclizumab and basiliximab are similar in kidney transplant recipients.