Cumulative weight-based rabbit antithymocyte globulin dosing for induction in heart transplantation: Impact on outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Optimal dose of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) for heart transplantation (HTx) induction remains uncertain. We conducted a retrospective analysis to assess the effect of cumulative rATG weight-based dosing in HTx induction.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed a total of 340 primary HTx patients (1983-2018) receiving a fixed rATG dose (125 mg daily for 3 days). Patients were retrospectively categorized based on cumulative rATG exposition: group A (<4.5 mg/kg), group B (4.5-7.5 mg/kg), and group C (>7.5 mg/kg). The primary composite outcome (death, acute rejection, and infection) and its components were evaluated at 24 months using absolute incidence, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and Cox modeling.

Results

Group A had a non-significant lower incidence o

SUBMITTER: Bebawi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12554046 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature