Effect on patient and graft survival of reducing the methylprednisolone dose after renal transplantation.

In 1972-1979, 584 first renal transplantations were carried out. During the period 1972-1975, methylprednisolone was given for the first six months after the transplantation in a total dose of about 9 g, in addition to the usual dose of azathioprine (period 1). In 1976-1979 the total dose of methylprednisolone given during a corresponding period of time was about 4.5 g (period 2). Cutting down the dosage to half resulted in an improvement of the one-year patient survival by 16 per cent (from 63 to 79 per cent and the one-year graft survival by 10 percent (from 46 to 56 per cent).