Figure 1. Induction therapy of rATG in simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplantation results in a significant decrease of NK cells.

Patients (n = 8) initially received 1.5 mg/kg body weight i.v. rATG (Thymoglobulin, Genzyme GmbH, Neu Isenburg, Germany) starting at day 0 followed by 4 further consecutive days posttransplantation in combination with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids. We further enrolled nine patients who received a renal allograft as a control group. Control patients received two dosages of basiliximab (20 mg i.v., day 0 and day 4). Asterisks denote significant differences compared to pretransplant levels of CD3⁻CD56⁺ NK cells.