Induction therapy in lung transplantation: a prospective, controlled clinical trial comparing OKT3, anti-thymocyte globulin, and daclizumab

Because acute rejection is associated with inferior outcomes in lung transplantation, we have routinely employed OKT3, anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), or daclizumab as adjuncts to reduce rejection. We performed a 4-year prospective, controlled clinical trial of these 3 therapies to determine differences in post-operative infection, rejection, survival, and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Eighty-seven consecutive lung transplant patients received OKT3 ( n = 30), ATG ( n = 34), and daclizumab ( n = 23) as induction agents. The groups had similar demographics and immunosuppression protocols differing only in induction agents used. No differences were observed in immediate post-operative outcomes such as length of hospitalization, ICU stay, or time on ventilators. Twelve months post-transplant, OKT3 had more infections per patient than the other agents, a difference that only became significant 2 months post-operatively ( p = 0.009). The most common infection was bacterial and OKT3 had more bacterial infections than any other agent. Daclizumab had more patients remain infection free in the first year ( p = 0.02), having no fungal infections and a low rate of viral infections. No patient receiving daclizumab developed drug specific side-effects. Only those patients with episodes of acute rejection developed BOS. There were no significant differences in the freedom from acute rejection or BOS between the groups. The 2-year survival for the entire cohort was 68%, with no differences observed in patient survival. This study again reveals the importance of acute rejection in the subsequent development of BOS. Although daclizumab offers a low risk of post-transplant infection and drug specific side-effects, no drug is superior in delaying rejection or BOS or in prolonging long-term survival.