Objective: This study compared the incidence of acute or chronic rejection and adverse events in lung transplant patients receiving induction basiliximab versus controls not receiving treatment.
Materials and methods: Basiliximab was administered to 15 patients with impaired renal function, advanced age, or high surgical risk, (group I). The mean age was 48.9 years; nine were double-lung and six single-lung grafts. They were compared to 13 lung transplants performed in 2001 (mean age 43.6 years, 11 double lung and two single lung [group II]).
Results: The incidence of acute rejection was 13.3% in group I versus 38.5% in group II (P = .19, OR 4.06), with chronic rejection in 20% and 38.5% of cases, respectively (P = .4, OR 2.5). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of infections or malignancies. Nor were there any direct adverse events due to the administration of the drug. The estimated 2-year survival was 80% for group I and 54% for group II (P = .14).
Conclusions: Basiliximab has a trend to reduce the rate of acute and chronic rejection in lung transplant recipients, with no increased incidence of infections or malignancies. The 2-year survival for patients treated with basiliximab was better than the control group, despite including high risk transplant patients.