title: Cardiac transplantation with corticosteroid-free immunosuppression: long-term results.
abstract: To assess the long-term safety of an immunosuppressive regimen without corticosteroids, we retrospectively evaluated 42 long-term (greater than 1 year) survivors of orthotopic cardiac transplantation. We determined the incidence of (1) conversion of the immunosuppressive regimen from cyclosporine and azathioprine alone (group I) to cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone (group II), (2) late acute graft rejection (defined as occurring at greater than 1 postoperative year), and (3) major postoperative complications related to corticosteroids. Of the 42 patients who were started on cyclosporine and azathioprine, 48% remained in group I, and 52% converted to group II. Forty-five percent of group II patients were able to taper and discontinue prednisone in 15.6 +/- 2.2 months. Among the patients on long-term corticosteroid-free immunosuppression, the incidence of late rejection was 2.1% per endomyocardial biopsy. The incidence of late infectious episodes was not significantly different between the two groups of patients, although diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia were more prevalent in group II than in group I. These data suggest that cardiac transplant recipients who chronically remain on corticosteroid-free immunosuppression represent a select group of patients with an acceptably low risk of late graft rejection and associated reduction of potential risk factors of accelerated coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Virginia-Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hastillo
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Guerraty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D003524:Cyclosporins; D001379:Azathioprine; D008775:Methylprednisolone