High Dose (Bolus) Intravenous Methylprednisolone at the Time of Kidney Homotransplantation

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Abstract
A completely randomized double-blind study of bolus methylprednisolone vs. dextrose in H2O, administered at the time of human kidney transplantation, failed to demonstrate any beneficial effect of steroid therapy. No differences were observed in number of complete, irreversible graft rejections, number of acute rejection episodes or number of postoperative steroid boluses administered in treated or control groups. There were no differences in mean serum creatinines at 30, 60 and 90 days post-transplantation. There was a slight increase in mortality and incidence of complications in the group of patients receiving an intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone at time of transplantation as compared to controls. Failure to demonstrate any beneficial effect and the slight increased mortality and morbidity associated with bolus methylprednisolone dosage made this therapy unjustifiable.