Pre-implantation Basiliximab Reduces Incidence of Early Acute Rejection in Pediatric Heart Transplantation

The results of this study confirm that basiliximab is effective at suppressing CD25 count whether given pre- or post-CPB. Basiliximab before transplantation appeared to reduce acute rejection, whereas post-CPB administration did not suggest similar effects. These findings require independent validation in randomized trials and further studies should seek to mechanistically delineate these observations.