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Intestinal Transplantation under Tacrolimus Monotherapy after Perioperative Lymphoid Depletion with Rabbit Anti‐Thymocyte Globulin (Thymoglobulin ® )
Author(s) -
Reyes Jorge,
Mazariegos George V.,
AbuElmagd Kareem,
Macedo Camila,
Bond Geoffrey J.,
Murase Noriko,
Peters John,
Sindhi Rakesh,
Starzl Thomas E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2005.00874.x
Subject(s) - thymoglobulin , medicine , immunosuppression , prednisone , sirolimus , tacrolimus , anti thymocyte globulin , azathioprine , gastroenterology , transplantation , urology , incidence (geometry) , surgery , kidney transplantation , perioperative , physics , disease , optics
Modifications in the timing and dosage of immunosuppression can ameliorate the morbidity and mortality that has prevented widespread use of intestinal transplantation (ITx) in children. Thirty‐six patients receiving ITx, aged 5 months to 20 years were given 2–3 mg(kg of rabbit anti‐thymocyte globulin (rATG, thymoglobulin ® ) just before ITx, and 2–3 mg(kg postoperatively (total 5 mg(kg). Twice daily doses of tacrolimus (TAC) were begun enterally within 24 h after graft reperfusion with reduction of dose quantity or frequency after 3 months. Prednisone or other agents were given to treat breakthrough rejection. After 8–28 months follow‐up (mean 15.8 ± 5.3), 1‐ and 2‐year patient and graft survival is 100% and 94%, respectively. Despite a 44% incidence of acute rejection in the first month, 16 of the 34 (47%) survivors are on TAC (n = 14) or sirolimus (n = 2) monotherapy; 15 receive TAC plus low dose prednisone; one each receive TAC plus sirolimus, TAC plus azathioprine and TAC plus sirolimus and prednisone. There was a low incidence of immunosuppression‐related complications. This strategy of immunosuppression minimized maintenance TAC exposure, facilitated the long‐term control of rejection, decreased the incidence of opportunistic infections, and resulted in a high rate of patient and graft survival.