Steroid Free Immunosuppression

With our impressive results, our Transplant Program at Stony Brook University Medical Center (SBUMC) is a leader in offering a new anti rejection protocol with the ability in almost all patients to avoid the use of steriods.  The goal of immunosuppression following kidney transplantation is to provide safe and effective prevention of rejection of the kidney while minimizing the complications and side effects.  Prednisone has long been a cornerstone of immunosuppression therapy for over 40 years.  However, many patients suffer side effects of Prednisone including weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, bone disease, hyperlipidemia, cataracts as well as cosmetic problems.  At SBUMC we have had excellent results using a protocol that avoids oral prednisone altogether after kidney transplantation.  Our results have been presented nationally using less than normal maintenance immunosuppression and no oral prednisone.  Patients receive at the time of transplant, a single dose of Campath-1H (a monoclonal antibody) plus three doses of intravenous Methylprednisone.  Patients are discharged home on two oral anti-rejection medications and no prednisone.  Results to date have been excellent with low rates of rejection and infection with close careful follow-up.  We are excited to be able to offer this option to patients both after a living donor as well as deceased donor kidney transplants.