Antithymocyteglobulin as prophylaxis of graft failure and graft-versus-host disease in recipients of partially T-cell-depleted grafts from matched unrelated donors: a dose-finding study

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we set out to evaluate the effect of three different antithymocyteglobulin (ATG) doses on graft failure and incidence of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) among recipients of partially T-cell-depleted (TCD) grafts from matched unrelated donors (MUDs).

Patients and methods: Data of 74 consecutively treated MUD recipients were analyzed. Fifty-two, 13, and 9 MUD patients were treated with ATG in a total dose of 8 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 4 mg/kg (given from days -8 until -4), respectively.

Results: Granulocyte and platelet engraftment were not different between the groups, while graft failure was observed in two patients only (receiving 8 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg ATG, respectively). The cumulative incidence of severe (grade III-IV) acute GVHD and extensive chronic GVHD was 4%, 0%, 44% and 11%, 8%, 44% in groups receiving ATG in a dose of 8 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 4 mg/kg, respectively (severe acute GVHD: p<0.001; extensive chronic GVHD: p=0.05).

Conclusion: Based on these findings, we recommend when ATG is used in the setting of stem cell transplantation with (partially) TCD grafts from MUDs, to give a total dose of 6 to 8 mg/kg. A further decrease in dosage resulted in a highly significant increased incidence of severe acute and extensive chronic GVHD.