Long-term toxicity of antithymocyte globulin induction may vary with choice of agent: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) preparations are frequently used as induction treatment in renal transplantation, but little is known about the clinical equivalence of these different agents. We performed a retrospective, single-center study to compare the long-term clinical effects of ATG Fresenius (ATGF) and Thymoglobulin (SangStat, Fremont, CA) in renal transplant recipients.

Patients And Methods: A total of 194 consecutive renal transplant recipients were included who had undergone transplantation in our center between June 1993 and April 2001 and had received ATGF or Thymoglobulin as induction treatment.

Evaluation of vancomycin use in a large university-affiliated hospital in eastern France in 1999.

Objective: In 1999, we conducted a retrospective drug utilization review to determine the volume and pattern of vancomycin use in a university-affiliated hospital in eastern France.

Methods: Total vancomycin use was determined and expressed as vancomycin courses per 100 admitted patients and defined daily doses (DDD) of vancomycin per 100 patient-days. The indication for vancomycin use was classified as appropriate or inappropriate according to the guidelines issues by the HICPAC.