EXTENDED TREATMENT WITH ANTITHYMOCYTE GLOBULIN (ATGAM) IN RENAL ALLOGRAFT RECIPIENTS

Abstract
Twenty renal allograft recipients were treated with antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM; ATG) for up to 16 wk in addition to azathioprine and prednisone, while 20 controls received no ATG. The ATG group showed a lower incidence of 1st rejection episodes during the 1st mo. after transplantation and also a better functional graft survival rate up to 2 yr after transplantation. Results in this early ATG trial were better than those in subsequent trials which used 14 day treatment regimens. Longer treatment should be re-examined.