The impact of universal induction therapy on early hospital readmission of kidney transplant recipients

BACKGROUND: Early hospital readmission (EHR) is associated with worse outcomes. The use of anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) induction therapy is associated with increased efficacy in preventing acute rejection, although safety concerns still exist. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study compared the incidence, causes of EHR, and one-year clinical outcomes of patients receiving a kidney transplant between August 18, 2011 and December 31, 2012 (old era), in which only high-risk patients received 5 mg/kg rATG, with those transplanted between August 18, 2014 and December 31, 2015 (new era), in which all patients received a single 3 mg/kg dose of rATG. RESULTS: There were 788 patients from the Old Era and 800 from the New Era. The EHR incidence in the old era patients was 26.4% and in the new era patients, 22.5% (p = 0.071). The main cause of EHR in both eras was infection (67% vs. 68%). The incidence of acute rejection episodes was lower (22.7% vs 3.5%, p < 0.001) and the one-year patient survival was higher (95.6% vs. 98.1%, vs. p = 0.004) in new era patients. CONCLUSION: The universal use of 3 mg/kg rATG single-dose induction therapy in the new era was associated with a trend towards reduced EHR and a reduction in the incidence of acute rejection and mortality.