Long-term outcomes following alemtuzumab induction in lung transplantation

Objectives: Alemtuzumab is a commonly used induction agent for solid-organ transplantation. Its use in lung transplantation with reduced immunosuppressive regimens, however, has yet to be well characterized. Methods: From November 2006 to March 2008, 20 consecutive lung transplantation patients received alemtuzumab induction with a reduced maintenance immunosuppression regimen. Twenty consecutive case-controls who underwent transplantation between 2005 and 2006 were treated with a standard immunosuppression regimen without induction. Outcome variables were patient survival, acute rejection, infection, and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Results: Mean follow-up time was 1400 days in the alemtuzumab group and 1210 days in the control group. Double lung transplantation was performed in 21 patients (12 in the alemtuzumab group and 9 in the control group). There was no difference in survival between the alemtuzumab (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. There was also not a significant difference in time-adjusted death based on Kaplan-Meier analysis. The mean number of any grade of rejection event per patient was not significantly different (alemtuzumab 2.3 ± 2.7 vs. control 3.2 ± 2.35; P = .22). There was a trend toward the reduced incidence of infection requiring intravenous antibiotics per patient (alemtuzumab 2.4 vs. control 3.8; P = .08). The incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was similar in both groups (alemtuzumab 55% vs. control 70%; P = .25). Conclusions: Alemtuzumab induction with reduced immunosuppression offers a comparable 5-year survival and rejection rate compared to standard-dose immunosuppression regimen.