Induction immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients older than 60 years of age : safety and efficacy of ATGAM, OKT3 and Simulect.

Background: The choice of induction immunosuppression for kidney transplantation in elderly recipients is dictated by the consideration of the risk of infection as well as efficacy in the prevention of acute rejection, thus allowing a reduction in subsequent maintenance immunosuppression and its attendant long-term adverse effects.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of the antibody induction immunosuppression strategies in elderly recipients of kidney transplants.

Patients And Methods: We present retrospective data analysis on 183 kidney transplant recipients > or = 60 years of age at Hahnemann University Hospital (Philadelphia, PA, USA) over a 12-year period.