High dose rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction in living related liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Induction with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (RATG) has been reported to be effective in cadaveric liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to compare two immunosuppressive protocols in adult living-related liver transplantation (LRLT). METHODOLOGY: From May 2001 through May 2003, 34 LRLT were performed. The first 17 patients (group 1) were treated with tacrolimus (TAC) and steroids. The next 17 patients (group 2) were treated with a steroid-sparing protocol using RATG. RESULTS: The one-year patient and graft survival was respectively 76.5% and 64.7% for group 1 and 88.2 and 76.5% for group 2 (p = 0.037 and p = NS, respectively). Incidence of acute cellular rejection was 41.2% in group 1 compared to 47% in group 2 (p = NS). Mean daily TAC dose at 6 months was 6.5 +/- 1.1 mg/day in group 1 and 3.2 +/- 0.9 mg/day in group 2 (p < 0.001). In group 1, 41.1% experienced CMV infection compared to 11.7% in group 2 (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that this approach of RATG induction followed by postoperative, steroid-free, and low-dose TAC is safe and provides for adequate immunosuppression and similar outcome when compared to controls treated with standard TAC and steroid immunosuppression.