New trends in transplantation: the use of Thymoglobulin

Thymoglobulin (Genzyme Co., Cambridge, MA, USA), rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin, is an immunosuppressive drug approved for the treatment of renal transplant rejection.

To review the pharmacology, toxicity and efficacy of Thymoglobulin in solid organ and stem cell transplantations.

Review of the literature, information from Genzyme and personal clinical trial experience serve as sources for this review.

Thymoglobulin has helped to facilitate the growth of successful steroid sparing approaches to solid organ transplantation. Thymoglobulin is now incorporated into several stem cell transplantation approaches. Infection and second malignancies remain as concerns. Randomized trials are needed to compare efficacy with standard regimens.