Basiliximab reduces the incudence of acute cellular rejection in live related donor kidney transplatation; a single centre experience

The aim of this work is to determine the therapeutic benefit [s] of basiliximab induction therapy in the living related donor kidney transplantation One hundred adult recipients of their first kidney allograft were randomized to two treatment groups, one group received basiliximab and the second served as a control. All patients received a maintenance triple immunosuppressive therapy [steroids, cyclosporine, microemulsion and azathioprine]. The patients were followed up for a minimum of one year. The end points of evaluations included the incidence of acute rejection episodes, severity of rejection, cumulative steroid dose received, patients and graft survival. Basiliximab significantly reduced the proportion of patients who experienced of patients who experienced an acute rejection [18/50] when compared to the control group [31/50]. The cumulative steroid dose at 3 months as well as at 12 months was significantly lower in the basiliximab group. The overall incidence of post-transplant complications was comparable among the two treatment groups. Prophylactic basiliximab is well tolerated and significantly reduces the incidence of acute refection episodes in living related donor kidney transplantation