Alemtuzumab with Rapid Steroid Taper in Simultaneous Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation: Comparison to Induction with Antithymocyte Globulin

We compared our experience with alemtuzumab induction and rapid steroid taper (RST) in simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SKPT) with a historic control group who received rabbit antithymocyte globulin (r-ATG) induction with RST. 74 SKPTs performed at our center between January 2005 to November 2008 who underwent immunosuppression with RST in combination with r-ATG induction (n = 33; 1.5 mg/kg x 4 for a total dose of 6 mg/kg) or alemtuzumab induction (n = 41; 30 mg single dose). Maintenance immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. Steroids were discontinued after postoperative day 4. Recipient and transplant characteristics were similar between the 2 groups, with 82% of the r-ATG and 80% of the alemtuzumab group steroid free at 1 year. The rate of clinical acute rejection episodes was 12% in the r-ATG group and 15% in the alemtuzumab group. The rates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, BK nephropathy, and graft survival were similar between the 2 groups. There was no difference in mean serum creatinine, calculated GFR, or fasting blood sugar at 1 year between the 2 groups, whereas glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was lower at 1 year in the alemtuzumab (5.3 +/- 0.4) versus the r-ATG group (5.6 +/- 0.4; P = .0021). Induction with r-ATG or alemtuzumab with RST was safe and effective in SKPT. The incidences of acute rejection episodes, CMV infection, and BK nephropathy were similar. Mean HbA1C at 1 year was lower among the alemtuzumab group. Further long-term follow-up is needed to confirm these results.