Use of Antilymphocyte Globulin Prepared by Precipitation with Rivanol® and Reduced Dose of Azathioprine in Allogenic Renal Transplantation in the Dog

Abstract

Horse-antidog antilymphocyte immunoglobu-lin-G (ALIg-G) was prepared by precipitation with 2-ethoxy-6,9-diamino-acridine lactate (Rivanol®). Forty mongrel dogs were arranged in pairs, nephrectomized and one of the two kidneys transplanted to the groin of the other dog in the pair. One dog of each pair was treated with ALIg-G + Imuran 1.5 mg per kg per day (group A), the other, with Imuran 3 mg per kg per day (group B). Twenty-eight days after the operation ALIg-G was withdrawn, 9 dogs were then alive in group A, 5 dogs in group B. After 49 days 0 and 4 dogs respectively were alive. Ten other dogs had the same operative procedure performed but were postoperatively treated with 1.5 mg Imuran per kg per day (group C), none of the animals in this group survived more than 28 days.

The ALIg-G used had a good suppressive effect on the number of periferal circulating lymphocytes and did not reduce the number of circulating platelets. It had a good rejection preventing capacity during the treatment. The dogs treated with ALIg-G and Imuran more often developed severed anaemia, infections, sterile abscesses and necrosis of the renal cortex than the dogs treated only with Imuran.