Determining the best premedication regimen to prevent rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin infusion-associated reactions: A retrospective study comparing two hematopoietic stem cell transplant centers.

Background: Thymoglobulin® (ATG), a rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin, is used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) mainly to prevent the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Three doses (ATG1, ATG2, and ATG3) are administered on separate days, apart from the graft day. Since infusion-associated reactions (IAR) are frequent, patients were treated with acetaminophen, antihistamine, and corticosteroids (CS) as premedication (PR); however, the best PR regimen remains to be defined.