Immunological risk stratification and tailored minimisation of immunosuppression in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of minimisation of immunosuppression including early steroid withdrawal in kidney transplant recipients treated with Basiliximab induction remains unclear. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reports the outcomes from 298 consecutive renal transplants performed since 1st July 2010-June 2013 treated with Basiliximab induction and early steroid withdrawal in low immunological risk patients using a simple immunological risk stratification and 3-month protocol biopsy to optimise therapy. The cohort comprised 225 low-risk patients (first transplant or HLA antibody calculated reaction frequency (CRF