Discontinuance of Immunosuppression in Renal Transplant Patients

Immunosuppressive therapy was discontinued in six patients for an average of 27 months. In these six patients, only two rejections have occurred. A survey of other transplant centers showed that in such patients rejection was often delayed weeks or months after therapy was stopped. Once immunosuppressive therapy has been stopped, for whatever reason, and rejection has not occurred, consideration should be given to not resuming therapy unless signs of rejection appear.