title: Steroid minimization for sirolimus-treated renal transplant recipients.
abstract: Steroids are associated with a myriad of post-transplant side effects. Therefore, as new immunosuppressive drugs have been developed, attempts have been made to minimize steroid exposure. Sirolimus (SRL) has been demonstrated to have efficacy in early and late post-transplant immunosuppression. Accordingly, numerous trials have studied steroid minimization (early and late post-transplant) in the context of SRL-containing protocols (either with or without a calcineurin inhibitor). We herein review these trials and show that recent studies have determined that both late steroid withdrawal and early rapid discontinuation can be successful with SRL immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. matas001@umn.edu
authors.forename: Arthur J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Matas
authors.forename: Darla
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: Dixon B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Minnie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sarwal
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: E Steve
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Woodle
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011241:Prednisone; D020123:Sirolimus