Comparison study of Antithymocyte globulin and Methylprednisolone as induction therapy in kidney transplant patients refer to Imam Reza hospital, Kermanshah

Introduction: Kidney transplantation has many complications such as graft rejection which should be control by immunosuppressive drugs. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and Methylprednisolone in kidney transplantation patients in Imam Reza hospital of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, patients were organized in two groups ATG and Methylprednisolone, randomly. In both groups, Cyclosporine, Prednisolone and Mycophenolate mofetil were prescribed. Methylprednisolone was prescribed 1gr/day for three days after Kidney transplantation and after that treatment was continued by Prednisolone. Also, ATG was prescribed for 14 days after Kidney transplantation and after that treatment was continued by Prednisolone, too.
Results: In this study 49 patients were in ATG group and 50 patients were in Methylprednisolone group. At the end of month 6, mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 90.49±12.59 and 94.74±11.08 and mean creatinine levels was 1.28±0.59 and
1.22±0.36 in ATG and Methylprednisolone groups, respectively.
There was no significant difference between these two parameters (P=0.07 and P=0.53, respectively). Also, we hadn’t seen any significant difference in incidence of graft rejections,
new diabetes cases, malignancy, granulocytopenia and sever infection between these two groups. However, incidence of thrombocytopenia in ATG group was significantly higher than Methylprednisolone group (P=0.04).
Conclusion: According to no difference in results of kidney transplantation in both group and higher incidence of thrombocytopenia in ATG group and also, low cost and easier
accesses for Methylprednisolone, it seems to use of Methylprednisolone could be effective in these patients.