INTRODUCTION: While lymphodepletion is considered a therapeutic effect of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG), a concomitant decrease in basophil count (BC) has unknown clinical effect. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between BC following rATG induction and acute cellular rejection (ACR) during the first post-HTx year. METHODS: Retrospective single-center study included 183 HTx recipients receiving rATG induction between 2010 and 2021 (mean age 52 ± 13 years, 23 % female). Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), platelet (PLT) count and BC were assessed on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 following HTx. The primary outcome was the first ACR (grade ≥1B) within the first post-HTx year. RESULTS: Patients with ACR had significantly higher BC on day 14 (17/μL (IQR 9-43/μL) vs. 10/μL (IQR 4-19/μL), p = 0.050) and higher PLT on day 7 (143 × 10 CONCLUSION: Lower BC two weeks after rATG induction is associated with less ACR during the first post-HTx year.