Steroid maintenance is associated with an increased risk of infections but has no effect on patient and graft survival in pancreas transplantation: A retrospective review of the UNOS database

Publication Date

2015

Journal Title

Pancreatology

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The appropriateness of steroid maintenance in pancreas transplantation is unproven. The current literature is insufficient due to small numbers, short follow-up and sparse data. METHODS: Data from the UNOS database on adults >/=18 years old, who received pancreas and kidney-pancreas transplants between January 1996 and March 2014 were analyzed (n = 27,077). Two groups were evaluated: (a) Steroids Induction only (n = 4391) and (b) Steroid maintenance (n = 22,686). One-, 3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year unadjusted patient and graft survival rates were compared. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine what patient factors were associated with these outcomes. RESULTS: There were differences in patient survival at 1 and 3 years and in graft survival at 3 and 5 years. There was a higher rate of infectious complications in the maintenance group, but after controlling for several recipient factors, whether a patient received steroid maintenance or not, was not significantly associated with the risk of death or graft failure. CONCLUSION: The use of maintenance steroids is significantly associated with an increased risk of infectious complications, but no difference in patient death or graft failure after controlling for multiple recipient factors. There is also no benefit with the use of steroid maintenance after pancreas transplantation.

Volume Number

15

Issue Number

5

Pages

554-62

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2015/09/04

Status

Faculty, Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Healh

Primary Department

Surgery

Additional Departments

General Internal Medicine; Molecular Medicine; Pediatrics

PMID

26330202

DOI

10.1016/j.pan.2015.08.005

Comments

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