PEDIATRICS Vol. 52 No. 2 August 1973, pp. 235-240
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reimold, E. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reimold, E. W.

INTERMITTENT PREDNISONE THERAPY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AFTER RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

Ekkehard W. Reimold M.D.1

1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Dallas, Texas

Retardation of growth and maturation is a frequently observed complication after renal transplantation in children. It is attributed predominantly to the presently used immunosuppressive therapy.

In four girls who were followed up to 28 months after transplantation the dose of prednisone was reduced to 1 mg/kg/day within six weeks. Between three and one-half and five months it was further changed to an alternate-day treatment schedule provided no signs of rejection were found and a stable renal function was present.

With this treatment the incidence of rejection was not increased, all steroid side effects gradually subsided and the renal function remained normal. All four patients were growth retarded before operation. They continued or started to grow after transplantation; two girls reached the 50th height percentile within 12 months; the other two have shown considerable growth. Alternate-day prednisone therapy is an important modification of the presently used immunosuppressive treatment, facilitating medical and social rehabilitation and reducing the number of complications in children and adolescents.

Submitted on December 11, 1972
Accepted on February 5, 1973