Use of antithymocyte globulin (dose by rosette protocol) in pediatric renal allograft recipients.

Total rosette-forming cells (TRFCs) and percentage of rosette-forming cell (RFC) levels were measured in patients undergoing dialysis and in recipients following renal transplantation. The percentage of RFCs of the dialysis patients was not different from the percentage of RFCs of normal subjects, whereas the TRFCs were significantly lower in the dialysis patients. After transplantation, the percentage of RFCs and TRFCs was significantly lower in recipients treated with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) than in those of the control group; however, there was no difference in allograft survival between the ATG-treated and control recipients when using ATG in the dose by rosette protocol.