Transplant Center

Patient Information

Enhancing Transplant Recovery With an Easier Pill to Swallow

UM Medical Center is one of a handful of transplant centers pioneering a steroid-free protocol for transplant patients to reduce side effects of transplant medications and improve patient compliance with their immunosuppressive therapy

Each and every patient who has a kidney transplant must take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ rejection. For decades, these medications have contained steroids that can contribute to weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, cataracts, and bone disease. Now, the University of Maryland Medical Center is one of a handful of transplant centers pioneering a steroid elimination protocol for transplant patients, in order to cut down on side effects and keep patients compliant with their immunosuppressive therapy.

This spring, 38-year-old Brian Hadix received a transplant after having kidney disease. Everyday he must take nine different medications so that his body will not reject the organ his sister gave to him during a living-donor kidney transplant. Before the surgery, Brian thought he may gain weight or develop a fuller face because of the medication he would need to take, but because he is on the rapid steroid elimination protocol, he gained just a couple pounds following the transplant.

"Some people are reluctant to have a kidney transplant because they fear they will gain significant weight," explains Stephen Bartlett, M.D., professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and head of the division of transplantation at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He adds, "The side effects from the steroid prednisone cause some patients to become non-compliant and stop taking their medications."

"Our studies have found that the 'rapid steroid elimination protocol' is very promising. There has been no increase in rejection rates among the living donor kidney transplant patients on the protocol. Also, we have found a lower incidence of post-transplant diabetes, and a decrease in infectious complications as compared to steroid use," says Anne Wiland, Pharm.D., a clinical specialist and research advocate with the University of Maryland Division of Transplantation.

"This has been a very positive experience," says Brian. He has a crystal clear memory of the day of the surgery, his hospital stay, and the recovery time. "My sister and I had adjoining operating rooms. I remember looking over into her room and seeing someone give a thumbs-up. Then somebody else said to me 'You're on!' That's when the anesthesiologist put on the mask and told me to start counting.I reached number four."

Brian even recalls the very moment he woke up in the recovery room. Just five days later, he was released from the hospital with a new, working kidney and a hefty supply of medications.

Even before the surgery, Brian began taking immunosuppressive drugs. He will continue to take these medications for the rest of his life, so he is pleased to know that the steroid-free protocol is working for him.

The University of Maryland Division of Transplantation's mission is to both save and enhance the lives of patients with a transplant program of the highest caliber. Brian's care and the research into immunosuppressive therapies without steroids are clear examples of how the program is achieving its mission.

If you would like to make an appointment or talk to someone about our services, please call 410-328-5408 or 1-800-492-5538.

This page was last updated on: May 21, 2008.