Basiliximab Brand Name– Simulect
What is Basiliximab
Basiliximab is an immunosuppressant used to prevent rejection in renal allograft recipients. Like daclizumab, basiliximab is a recombinant, chimeric (murine/human) monoclonal antibody (IgG1) against CD25, the interleukin-2 receptor alpha-chain.
When used prophylactically in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids, basiliximab reduces biopsy-confirmed rejection episodes in patients undergoing renal transplantation.
The reduction in acute rejection achieved with basiliximab is similar to that observed with daclizumab.
In contrast to less specific immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine, the adverse event profile of basiliximab is comparable to that of placebo. Other potential benefits of basiliximab therapy include lack of myelosuppression and no increased risk of lymphoma or other malignancies.
The FDA granted final approval of basiliximab for prevention of renal allograft rejection in May 1998.
Basiliximab has also been studied in the prevention of liver transplant rejection.
Indications
- kidney transplant rejection prophylaxis
- liver transplant rejection prophylaxis
For acute kidney transplant rejection prophylaxis when used as part of an immunosuppressive regimen that includes cyclosporine and corticosteroids
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acne vulgaris
- agitation
- anaphylactoid reactions
- anemia
- angina
- antibody formation
- anxiety
- arthralgia
- arthropathy
- asthenia
- atrial fibrillation
- back pain
- bleeding
- bone fractures
- bronchospasm
- cardiac arrest
- cataracts
- chest pain (unspecified)
- chills
- conjunctivitis
- constipation
- cough
- dehydration
- depression
- diabetes mellitus
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dyspepsia
- dyspnea
- dysuria
- edema
- esophagitis
- fatigue
- fever
- flatulence
- fluid retention
- GI bleeding
- gingival hyperplasia
- headache
- heart failure
- hematoma
- hematuria
- hypercalcemia
- hypercholesterolemia
- hyperglycemia
- hyperkalemia
- hyperlipidemia
- hypertension
- hypertrichosis
- hypertriglyceridemia
- hyperuricemia
- hypocalcemia
- hypoesthesia
- hypoglycemia
- hypokalemia
- hypomagnesemia
- hypophosphatemia
- hypotension
- impotence (erectile dysfunction)
- increased urinary frequency
- infection
- injection site reaction
- insomnia
- leukopenia
- malaise
- melena
- metabolic acidosis
- muscle cramps
- myalgia
- nausea
- oliguria
- paresthesias
- peripheral edema
- peripheral neuropathy
- pharyngitis
- polycythemia
- post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD)
- proteinuria
- pruritus
- pulmonary edema
- purpura
- rash
- renal tubular necrosis
- respiratory arrest
- rhinitis
- sinus tachycardia
- sinusitis
- skin ulcer
- stomatitis
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombosis
- tremor
- urinary retention
- urticaria
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- weight gain
- wheezing
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- children
- fungal infection
- herpes infection
- human anti-murine antibody (HAMA)
- infection
- lymphoma
- mannitol hypersensitivity
- murine protein hypersensitivity
- neoplastic disease
- pregnancy
- requires a specialized care setting
- requires an experienced clinician
- vaccination
- varicella
- viral infection
Interactions
- Abatacept
- Alefacept
- Alpha interferons
- Antithymocyte Globulin
- Azathioprine
- Certolizumab pegol
- Cladribine
- Corticosteroids
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cyclosporine
- Daclizumab
- Dichlorphenamide
- Echinacea
- Elbasvir; Grazoprevir
- Fludarabine
- Golimumab
- Interferon Alfa-2a
- Interferon Alfa-2b
- Interferon Alfa-2b; Ribavirin
- Interferon Alfa-n3
- Interferon Alfacon-1
- Live Vaccines
- Mercaptopurine, 6-MP
- Methotrexate
- Mycophenolate
- Natalizumab
- Peginterferon Alfa-2a
- Peginterferon Alfa-2b
- Penicillamine
- Pentostatin
- Purine analogs
- Rilonacept
- Saquinavir
- Sipuleucel-T
- Sirolimus
- Sofosbuvir; Velpatasvir
- Sofosbuvir; Velpatasvir; Voxilaprevir
- Tacrolimus
- Thioguanine, 6-TG
- Tocilizumab