To compare the early clinical effect of immune induction between interleukin 2 receptor antagonist (IL-2Ra) and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in kidney transplantation from donation after cardiac death (DCD) so as to explore a reasonable immune suppression scheme in kidney transplantation from DCD.

The clinical data of 110 recipients of kidney transplantation from DCD in the department of organ transplantation of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University during January 2015 and May 2016 were analyzed, retrospectively, among which 82 recipients received IL-2Ra and 28 recipients received ATG for immune induction. In addition, all the recipients received triple immunosuppressant (tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and glucocorticiod). The preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine between the two groups at different time points was compared by t test. The incidence of DGF, pulmonary infection, acute rejection and the survival condition of transplanted kidney/recipients were compared by chi-square test. P<0.05 was deemed statistically significant.

The incidence of DGF of IL-2Ra group and ATG group was 20.7% and 42.9%, and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.263, P<0.05). But the incidence of pulmonary infection, acute rejection and the survival condition of transplanted kidney/recipients between the two groups had no statistical difference (P all>0.05). There was also no statistical difference in serum creatinine between the two groups at the time points of preoperative and 90 days after operation (P all>0.05). There was significant difference in serum creatinine between the two groups at the time points of 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60 days after operation, respectively (P all<0.05).

Both IL-2Ra and ATG can effectively prevent the occurrence of acute rejection after kidney transplantation. Reasonable drug selection for immune induction should be based on the situation of donors and recipients.