Benefits Derivated From Late Steroid Withdrawal in Renal Transplant Recipients

Abstract Because corticosteroids have adverse metabolic effects, inducing bone-mineral imbalance and contributing to infections among renal transplant recipients, many withdrawal trials have been attempted to reduce adverse events and improve quality of life. We retrospectively analyzed the safety and efficacy of late steroid withdrawal, after the first posttransplant year, among a selected group of kidney allograft recipients. In 42 low immunological risk allograft recipients, among 382 patients transplanted during a decade, corticosteroids were progressively reduced and completely withdrawn. The evolution of clinical and biochemical parameters after the withdrawal were analyzed. Corticosteroid withdrawal was performed as a mean of 52.16 ± 28.41 months posttransplant, with subsequent follow-up without steroid treatment of 18.13 ± 16.11 months. Comparing the most recent evaluation with the data previous to steroid withdrawal, patients showed a significant decreases in diastolic pressure ( P = .039), total cholesterol ( P = .000), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels ( P = .039), but not in triglyceride levels ( P = .33). Body weight did not change ( P = .77), but increased fasting glucose levels were noted ( P = .03), in absence of new diagnosed diabetes mellitus. A significant reduction in cyclosporine Neoral ( P = .01) or tacrolimus doses were detected ( P = .01). At the last visit, serum creatinine in the whole group remained stable ( P = .06). Only five patients showed an increase in serum creatinine more than 20% (from 1.44 ± 0.41 to 1.94 ± 0.45 mg/dL P = .04) and proteinuria did not increase ( P = .94). No patient was diagnosed with a rejection episodes or required corticosteroid resumption. Graft and patient survivals were 100% at the end of follow-up. In conclusion, our data showed that late corticosteroid witdrawal in renal transplant recipients of low immunological risk is safe and is followed by an improvement in their metabolic profile and in blood pressure.