The use of antilymphoblast globulin in the treatment of renal allograft rejection: a double-blind, randomized study

Abstract

A randomized, double-blind study comparing horse antilymphoblast globulin (ALG) (25 patients) with human IgG (20 patients) in addition to standard antirejection therapy was performed in recipients of first kidney transplants having their first rejection episodes. Patients received ALG (20 mg/kg/day) for 10 days, and a control group was given human IgG (20 mg/kg/day) for 10 days in addition to standard therapy. The groups were comparable with respect to HLA matching, age, time to onset of first rejection episode, and number of diabetics. The number of patients requiring transplant nephrectomy and/or dialysis, having a second rejection episode, having good late function, or dying did not differ in recipients of related kidneys receiving either ALG or human IgG. Recipients of cadaver kidney grafts had fewer (0.05 less than P less than 0.06) second rejection episodes if they received ALG during their first rejection episode. However, the number of patients requiring transplant nephrectomy and/or dialysis, having late good function, and dying did not differ significantly for recipients of cadaver kidneys. We conclude that ALG does not add significantly to standard antirejection therapy for the treatment of first rejection episodes.