Triple-drug immunosuppression with steroid discontinuation by six months after heart transplantation.

Abstract

The present data suggest that prednisone can be safely withdrawn in heart transplant recipients without jeopardizing survival and graft function. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the full impact of early withdrawal of steroids from triple-drug immunosuppression, especially on long-term graft function and incidence of coronary artery disease. Benefits of early steroid withdrawal included a reduction in bone loss, which might ultimately have a major positive impact on the extent of long-term rehabilitation and exercise tolerance after heart transplantation.