A single centre, randomised controlled, open label study of rituximab as induction therapy in kidney transplantation

INTERVENTION: Comparision of rituximab with daclizumab as induction immunosuppression following renal transplantation Added 01/02/2010: The trial was stopped prematurely due to an excess of acute rejection in the study arm. CONDITION: Immunosuppression following renal transplantation ; Surgery ; Kidney transplant PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Acute rejection incidence; 2. Acute rejection severity ‐ Banff scale; 3. Incidence of steroid resistant rejection, defined as the need for ATG therapy SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Patient survival ; 2. Graft survival; 3. Graft function ? estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR); 4. Incidence of infection ? culture positive infections; 5. Incidence of C4d+ endothelial staining together with infiltrate on renal biopsy; 6. Incidence of anti‐donor HLA‐specific antibody in post transplant sera INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients undergoing renal transplantation