Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts.
Published on: May 13, 2015
Thymoglobulin induction and steroid avoidance in cardiac transplantation: results of a prospective, randomized,
Mohamad H Yamani1, David O Taylor, Jennifer Czerr
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kaufman Center for Heart Failure, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. yamanim@ccf.org
Background:
Chronic use of corticosteroids (CS) following transplantation is associated with significant long-term morbidities. Minimizing exposure to CS to improve long-term outcomes, without compromising allograft function, remains an important goal in transplantation.
Objectives:
This single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Thymoglobulin as part of a CS-sparing regimen in cardiac transplantation.
Methods:
Thirty-two low-risk cardiac transplant patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a Thymoglobulin-based CS-avoidance regimen (CS-avoidance group; n = 16) or a long-term CS-based regimen with no antibody induction (control group; n = 16). Pulse CS therapy was used for the treatment of acute cellular rejection in both groups.
Results:
Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. At one yr, there was no significant difference in the mean incidence of acute cellular rejection (>or=3A) episodes between the CS-avoidance and control groups, 0.81+/-1.05 and 1.07+/-1.03, respectively. Importantly, the CS-avoidance patients had significant improvement in muscle strength and less bone loss compared with the control patients during the first six months post-transplant.
Conclusions:
CS-avoidance regimen with Thymoglobulin induction appeared to be safe and effective in cardiac transplantation. Further studies are required to demonstrate the long-term safety and benefits of such a regimen.
