Abstract: The potential benefits of induction therapy using anti-T-cell antibodies were established. However, the utilization of these agents could be associated with several side effects. Long-term retrospective studies have not shown significant benefit of routine induction by the use of depletional antibody therapy regarding patient and graft survival and it was suggested that patient survival may be impaired as a result of increased early cardiovascular and infection related mortality. Monoclonal antibodies against IL-2 receptors were introduced and tested in the clinical setting. Several reports had documented their therapeutic advantage in cadaveric and live-donors renal transplantation on short-term basis. It was claimed that these agents allow selective immunosuppression without augmented morbidity and/or over-immunosuppression. In my plenary Speech, I'll summarize the advantages and disadvantage of the use of anti- IL-2 antibodies as well as I'll report my center experience.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Hussein Sheashaa is an assistant professor of Internal medicine and nephrology at Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. His area of expertise is the clinical aspects of live donor kidney transplantation. He authored or co-authored over 60 scientific papers published in reviewed journals or presented at international conferences. He wrote a chapter entitled Schistosomiasis and renal transplantation, a critical review. In: Kidney Transplantation: new research edited by Judith Fox, Nova Science Publisher, inc, pp. 105-123, 2006. He had the opportunity to be a research fellow at Brigham and women's hospital, Harvard University and he is a member of American society of transplantation. Moreover, he is the director of annual Mansoura international hemodialysis course that is held at Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt.