The impact of quadruple immunosuppression with OKT3 on kidney transplantation in black recipients

Background Black recipients of kidney transplants have been shown to have lower graft survival than other racial groups. There is ongoing controversy about the optimal immunosuppressive protocol for blacks after kidney transplantation. Patients and Methods Five hundred-eighty-two recipients of kidney transplants performed between 1985 and 1994 were divided into three groups: (1) nonblacks who received cyclosporine and prednisone (N = 292); (2) blacks who received “quadruple” cyclosporine based immunosuppression with OKT3 induction (N = 98); and (3) blacks who received cyclosporine and prednisone only (N = 192). Patient and graft survival and incidence of acute rejection episodes were compared among the groups. Results Blacks had lower graft survival when compared with nonblacks. However, in the subgroup of black recipients who received quadruple immunosuppression, graft survival at 1 year was higher and the incidence of acute rejection episodes was significantly decreased compared with blacks without induction. Graft survival and the incidence of acute rejection in blacks on quadruple therapy was comparable with nonblacks. Conclusions Our data support the principle that quadruple immunosuppression should be used routinely for black recipients of kidney transplants.