Steroid-free Medication Lowers Rejection Rate For Kidney Transplants

[okarol]

Steroid-free Medication Lowers Rejection Rate For Kidney Transplants - Alternate Treatments Avoid The Side Effects Of Long-Term Steroid Use

15 Dec 2006   www.medicalnewstoday.com

Kidney transplant recipients are typically required to take daily steroids as part of their anti-rejection medications. However, long-term steroid use has significant side effects. A new study in Clinical Transplantation explored a combination of steroid-free medications that resulted in excellent patient outcomes and a very low rejection rate.

Long-term steroid use is associated with bone disease, obesity and slow growth rate in pediatric patients. Therefore, much effort has been made toward decreasing, withdrawing or completely avoiding the use of steroids in clinical organ transplantation.

A review of 301 patients that were given steroid-free medications at the Ohio State University Medical Center found that only 4.9 percent experienced rejection. In a second review, studying 502 patients who received typical, steroidal medications at the same institution, the rejection rate rose to 9.4 percent.

"The idea behind the research presented is to evaluate the feasibility of omitting the prescription of steroid medications to kidney transplant recipients," says Amer Rajab, M.D., Ph. D. and lead author of the study. "We conclude that a significantly lower incidence of rejection can be achieved using steroid free maintenance."

Clinical Transplantation is a vital channel of communication, for all those involved in the care of people who require, or have had, organ or tissue transplants. The journal is published bi-monthly, with an international editorial board that includes specialists in all the major organ areas. It also covers the often controversial, social, ethical and psychological issues involved. For more information visit: blackwell-synergy.com/loi/ctr.

Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic, and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. The company employs over 1,000 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Singapore, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice.

For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit blackwellpublishing.com or blackwell-synergy.com.

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=58976

[BigSky]

There was a study was done from 96-99 (4.5 years) in Odense, Denmark at the Deaprtment of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital on 100 patients.  The results of graft survival were nearly the same as those who took the steroids.  Year 1 -97%, year 2 -96%, year 3-90% , year 4-82%


It's a PDF file   http://www.centerspan.org/pubs/transplantation/2001/0427/tr080101089p.pdf

From article:   Compared with protocols that discontinue steroids after the initial post-transplant period, a steroid-free protocol avoids the increased risk of infection, body disfigurement, and other steroid-induced side-effects in the early post-transplant period.  It also avoids the long-term risks of steroid use and the increased risk of rejection when the steroids are withdrawn.

[Fighter]

Oooh that's music to my ears. I hope these studies are correct and that soon my hospital will recognize that steroid-free immunosuppression is the way to go. I don't have a transplant yet and I asked my neph if I was going to get steroids post-transplant. He said that they are investigating new steroid-free scenarios with a few patients but that the rule is still to give steroids since we don't yet have much long-term data for steroid-free scenarios. Everyone on this site who has had a transplant seems to say that the steroids are by far the worst of the post-transplant meds, and I really hope I don't have to take much if any at all.....

[jedimaster]

Couldn't agree more. I will ask my nephs about this possibility, as eventually I'll have a transplant...7,5 years from now, though

[Hanify]

Ok - I know I sometimes get a bit off topic - but WTH?

[Sunny]

Can you still have steroid free transplants if you have a 6/6 match but have high PRA? Anyone know of information on this?

[Chris]

Ok - I know I sometimes get a bit off topic - but WTH?

What do you mean Hanify?

Sunny, that would be a good question to ask a transplant center who uses the steroid free program. I can give you the address to my center so you can ask and see what they might say.

[Hanify]

It was in response to the first qweqwe post I saw - before I realised it was spam.  It's gone now, so my comment makes no sense.

[Chris]

It was in response to the first qweqwe post I saw - before I realised it was spam.  It's gone now, so my comment makes no sense.

Ahhhhhhh makes sense now with that part missing.