Comparison between thymoglobulin and ATGAM as an induction agent in adult kidney transplantation: A single-center experience

Objective: The best antithymocyte globulin (ATG) preparation for induction suppression in kidney transplant recipients is still not clear. The aim of this study was to identify short- and long-term outcomes in kidney transplant recipients who received Thymoglobulin or ATGAM as an induction agent. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent kidney transplantation from 1996 to 2010. Recipients were classified according to the ATG preparation. Results: One hundred fifty-two patients (64.4%) received thymoglobulin and 84 (35.6%) received ATGAM. The occurrence of delayed graft function in patients receiving Thymoglobulin was higher than in patients receiving ATGAM (P =.005), but serum creatinine levels and acute rejection after kidney transplantation were not different between the two groups. The death-censored graft survival curve in Thymoglobulin recipients was higher than in ATGAM recipients (P =.027). Bacterial infection was a predisposing factor for graft survival (P =.008). Conclusion: The efficacy of Thymoglobulin induction is generally better than that of ATGAM induction, and prevention of bacterial infections was just as important as the use of ATG because bacterial infection was an important risk factor for graft failure.