Basiliximab improves graft survival in renal transplant recipients with delayed graft function.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of basiliximab in first renal transplant recipients with delayed graft function, defined by the need for dialysis in the first week posttransplantation. Among 148 patients in the study, 90 received basiliximab (60.8%) with 58 comprising the control group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups related to the evaluated variables, except that the control group received more blood transfusions pretransplantation. There was a lower incidence of steroid-resistant rejection (6% vs 20.9%; P = .017) and humoral rejections (0% vs 7%; P = .038) in the basiliximab group. Also, graft survival was significantly higher in basiliximab group compared with the control one (92.8% vs 80.4%; P = .028). There were no significant differences in the other outcomes. In conclusion, this study confirmed the beneficial effects of addition of basiliximab to the immunosuppressive schema of patients with delayed graft function.