title: Minimization of steroids in liver transplantation.
abstract: Because of the markedly improved short-term results of liver transplantation (LT) and persistently high number of long-term complications, the attention of transplant physicians should be focused on minimizing immunosuppressive therapy as much as possible. Steroid-based immunosuppression is responsible for a substantial post-LT morbidity and mortality, hence, minimization of its use is of utmost importance to improve the quality of life of the successfully transplanted liver recipient. This literature review shows that LT can be performed safely with steroid-minimal immunosuppression without compromising graft and patient survival. The tendency in clinical practice is to move more and more from steroid withdrawal to steroid avoidance protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. jan.lerut@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.forename: Eliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonaccorsi-Riani
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finet
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gianello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids