Jin Ho Lee1, Kwang Yong Kim2, Joon Ho Song3, Jong Hyun Jhee3, Yoon Ji Kim4, Woo Yeong Park5, Joong Kyung Kim1, Seoung Woo Lee3, Seun Deuk Hwang6. 1. Divison of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Bong Seng Memorial Hospital, Busan, Korea. 2. Department of Surgery, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 3. Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. 4. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Mediplex Sejong Hospital, Incheon, South Korea. 5. Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea. 6. Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. Electronic address: sdhwang0902@inha.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is an induction therapy in kidney transplantation, but our knowledge about the relation between outcomes and ATG regimens is limited. We compared ATG effectiveness in kidney transplantation according to dosage and administration schedule. METHODS: Reports from 1970 until May 2018 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded were searched. We performed direct and indirect network meta-analysis using Bayesian models and generated rankings for ATG dosage and injection number variations by generation mixed treatment comparison.We compared ATG dose and schedule in kidney transplantation in relation to all-cause death, graft failure, antibody-mediated rejection, T-cell mediated rejection, biopsy-proven acute rejection, and bacterial and viral infection. RESULTS: Ten studies (N = 1065) were analyzed by forming 6 groups: ATG alternate doses, 9 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 4.5 mg/kg; single dose, 6 mg/kg, and 4.5 mg/kg; and control. Compared to placebo, ATG regimen variations were not associated with significant differences in survival, viral infection, renal function, or graft survival. ATG regimens 9 and 4.5 mg alternate dosing tended to reduce biopsy-proven acute rejection but without statistical significance. According to the highest rank probability, the 9 mg alternate dosing group had the highest tendency for cytomegalovirus and bacterial infections but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The rejection frequency tended to be lower for the 9 and 4.5 mg alternate dosing groups. Infections occurred at a higher rate in the 9 mg alternate dosing group, but the differences in the risk of infection among the groups with different ATG regimens were not statistically significant.
BACKGROUND: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is an induction therapy in kidney transplantation, but our knowledge about the relation between outcomes and ATG regimens is limited. We compared ATG effectiveness in kidney transplantation according to dosage and administration schedule. METHODS: Reports from 1970 until May 2018 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded were searched. We performed direct and indirect network meta-analysis using Bayesian models and generated rankings for ATG dosage and injection number variations by generation mixed treatment comparison.We compared ATG dose and schedule in kidney transplantation in relation to all-cause death, graft failure, antibody-mediated rejection, T-cell mediated rejection, biopsy-proven acute rejection, and bacterial and viral infection. RESULTS: Ten studies (N = 1065) were analyzed by forming 6 groups: ATG alternate doses, 9 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 4.5 mg/kg; single dose, 6 mg/kg, and 4.5 mg/kg; and control. Compared to placebo, ATG regimen variations were not associated with significant differences in survival, viral infection, renal function, or graft survival. ATG regimens 9 and 4.5 mg alternate dosing tended to reduce biopsy-proven acute rejection but without statistical significance. According to the highest rank probability, the 9 mg alternate dosing group had the highest tendency for cytomegalovirus and bacterial infections but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The rejection frequency tended to be lower for the 9 and 4.5 mg alternate dosing groups. Infections occurred at a higher rate in the 9 mg alternate dosing group, but the differences in the risk of infection among the groups with different ATG regimens were not statistically significant.