Objective: Adverse effects of steroids have led to efforts to minimize their use in recipients of organ transplants. This study evaluated an early steroid withdrawal protocol including basiliximab, cyclosporine (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in renal-transplant recipients.
Methods: Between January 2001 and April 2005, our early steroid withdrawal protocol was used in 130 patients who underwent renal transplantation. Immunosuppression consisted of CsA (6-8 mg/kg), MMF (2 g/kg) and methylprednisolone (MP); basiliximab was given as induction therapy (steroid withdrawal group). MP was administered in a dose of 500 mg or 250 mg at renal transplantation; thereafter, the dose was rapidly tapered and MP was withdrawn on day 14 post-transplant.
Results: The incidence of acute rejection in the steroid withdrawal group was similar to that in the conventional steroid treatment group (without basiliximab) (18% vs. 21%). The severity of rejection episodes was similar in the two groups. Patient and graft survivals were 100% and 97% in the steroid withdrawal group. In 80 of the 130 patients (62%) in the steroid withdrawal group, MP was successfully withdrawn, with good allograft function during follow-up. In the other 50 patients (38%), MP was reinitiated because of acute rejection or other reasons. The success rate of steroid withdrawal 12 months after transplantation in recipients of ABO-compatible grafts was significantly higher than that in recipients of ABO-incompatible grafts (66% vs. 44%). The dose of MMF during the 12 months after renal transplantation was significantly lower in steroid reinitiated group than in the successful withdrawn group (p<0.05). Patients in the successful withdrawn group showed metabolic benefits such as lower cholesterol levels as compared with the steroid reinitiated group.
Conclusion: Although further follow-up is necessary to confirm our results, our protocol successfully permitted the early withdrawal of steroids in 62% of renal-transplant recipients, with no resumption of steroid treatment during 3 years of follow-up.