IL-2 receptor antibodies halve risk of renal transplantation rejection

In patients with renal transplants, the addition of interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies to immunosuppression regimens based on ciclosporin reduces the risk of acute rejection at six months by 49%. In a meta-analysis of eight randomised controlled trials Adu and colleagues (p 789) found that the overall proportion of acute rejections was 37% in the control group and 25% in the antibody group. Although acute rejection was reduced, there was no significant reduction in graft loss or mortality at one year. Antibody treatment did not increase the risk of infection or malignancy in the short term, but further study is needed to determine longer term effects.

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Relevant Article

Interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies in renal transplantation: meta-analysis of randomised trials

Dwomoa Adu, Paul Cockwell, Natalie J Ives, Jonathan Shaw, and Keith Wheatley
BMJ 2003 326: 789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]