Rabbit antithymocyte globulin and donor-specific antibodies in kidney transplantation — A review

The mode of action of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) includes preferential inhibition of pre-existing donor-reactive memory T-cell reconstitution and possibly apoptosis of plasma cells, the source of donor specific antibodies (DSAs). In kidney transplant patients with low-strength preformed DSAs, non-comparative data have shown a low incidence of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and graft survival using rATG even without desensitization...