Low Dose Thymoglobulin As Induction Agent on Prednisone-Free Regimens of Renal Transplant Recipients

Detailed Study Design:

This is a planned single center prospective randomized study evaluating the safety and efficacy of low dose thymoglobulin as induction agent in renal transplant recipients. Inclusion criteria will be adult renal transplant recipients who are not sensitized against their potential donors. The patients who agree to participate in the study will be randomly assigned to either thymoglobulin at 1.25mg/kg x 3 doses or 0.75mg/kg x 3 doses. There will be 86 sealed envelopes to perform the randomization process. 43 envelopes with 1.25mg/kg dosing and the other 43 envelopes with 0.75mg/kg dosing. The investigators will sequentially choose the sealed envelopes at the time of the patient randomization process. All patients will be started on our standard immunosupression regimen of prograf/cellcept and a fast steroid taper. Data will be obtained from every patient for up to one year post-transplant.

The investigators will obtain the following information at the time of consent:

1. Type of renal transplant (living vs cadaveric)
2. HLA matching
3. CMV status of donor and recipient
4. EBV status of donor and recipient
5. Creatinine prior to transplantation
6. Urinalysis at the time of transplantation
7. Primary renal disease
8. Weight of the renal transplant
9. BMI of the recipient and donor
10. Age of the donor and recipient
11. Sex of the donor and recipient
12. White blood cell count
13. Hemoglobin
14. Platelets
15. History of infections
16. History of malignancies

During each of the clinic visits the investigators will obtain the following information: