In general, induction immunosuppressive strategies utilized by kidney transplant centers fall into one of two categories. One strategy relies upon high doses of conventional immunosuppressive agents, while the other utilizes antibodies directed against T-cell antigens in combination with lower doses of conventional agents.
The optimal prophylactic induction immunosuppressive therapy to prevent kidney transplant rejection remains controversial. What follows in this topic review is a summary of the current data and our approach to induction therapy in adults. Maintenance immunosuppressive therapy is discussed separately.
Practically all kidney allograft recipients require immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection and loss of the allograft. The optimal regimen, including induction therapy, is not clear. A large number of controlled randomized trials and meta-analyses indicate that induction therapy consisting of biologic antibodies plus conventional immunosuppressive agent therapy is superior to conventional agent therapy alone in reducing kidney allograft rejection and allograft failure
Among patients undergoing kidney transplantation, we therefore recommend induction therapy consisting of antibody therapy plus conventional immunosuppressive therapy. One exception is Caucasian recipients of two haplotype-identical living related allografts. Such patients do not generally require induction therapy with antibodies given their markedly decreased immunologic risk of acute rejection.