Monitoring of CD3(+) T-Cell count in patients receiving antithymocyte globulin induction after cadaveric renal transplantation.
Ata P, Kara M, et al.Transplantation Proceedings 2013; 45(3): 929-931.
Aims
To investigate whether CD3+ cell counts can be used to monitor optimal antithymocyte globulin (ATG) dosage on the clinical outcomes of renal transplant patients.
Interventions
Patients in the experimental group received ATG doses according to clinical criteria and total lymphocyte counts. The control group received ATG doses tailored according to their CD3+ count.
Participants
21 cadaveric donor renal transplant recipients.
Outcomes
The outcomes included total and daily ATG dosages, administration period, side effects, number of days to a serum creatinine <2mg/dL, graft function at 3 months, acute rejection episodes and infection rates, costs of CD3+ analysis and amounts of ATG.
Follow-up
The number of days for the serum creatinine levels to decrease to <2mg/dL and 3 months post transpla
CET Conclusions
A lower mean total dose of ATG was administered if using CD3+ count to target dosing rather than total lymphocyte count. There was no difference in the duration of administration of ATG (8-10 days). The study was too small to assess for any difference in acute rejection rates or infectious complications in the first three months after transplantation. The average cost savings of administering ATG dose targeted by the CD3+ thresholds used in this study could be 20%. The results could quite easily have been very different if targeting different thresholds for lymphocyte and CD3+ counts.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Trial registration
Not reported.