ObjectiveTo compare the effect and safety of basiliximab in ABO incompatible pediatric liver transplant recipients.MethodsABO incompatible pediatric liver transplantation operated between January 2019 and August 2020 were studied. The patients were allocated randomized into two groups. Patients in experimental group were treated with basiliximab as immune induction therapy, but basiliximab was not used in patients of control group. Tacrolimus combined methylprednisolone were used after liver transplantation. The clinical characteristics, graft and recipient survival rate, rejection, infectious complications, and kidney functions after liver transplantation were observed. Donor specific antibody (DSA) was tested in 3 months after liver transplantation. The growth and development were assessed too after liver transplant.ResultsFourty-four patients were enrolled in the study, including 19 patients in the experimental group and 25 patients in the control group. The median follow-up time was 16.6 months (3.8–25.4 months), and there were no statistically differences between the two groups in terms of age, sex, weight, pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score, and other basic conditions. There were no significant differences between the two groups in tacrolimus dose, tacrolimus trough concentration, kidney functions, height and weight growth after liver transplantation. There were no statistical differences in lung infection, blood stream infection within 3 months after liver transplantation, cytomegalovirus, EBV infection, graft/patient survival rate after liver transplantation (P>0.05). However, the acute rejection rate was lower and the DSA positive rate in 3 months after liver transplantation was lower in the experimental group (P<0.05).ConclusionsBasiliximab can be safely used in ABO incompatible pediatric liver transplant recipients. Acute rejection rate and DSA positive rate after transplantation can be decreased with the useof basiliximab.