Immunosuppression in Liver Transplantation

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Abstract
The introduction of cyclosporine as an immunosuppressive agent improved the results of all types of organ transplantations1 and allowed liver transplantation to become the treatment of choice for many patients with end-stage liver disease.2 The rejection seen after liver transplantation tends to be less severe than that occurring after heart or kidney transplantation. Although acute rejection of the liver is common, it can usually be reversed with high doses of corticosteroids. Chronic rejection that is resistant to treatment with corticosteroids and antilymphocyte antibodies occurs in approximately 10 percent of cases. The liver is the main site of metabolism of cyclosporine. . . .