Kidney transplant patients may avoid steroids with new drug combo

This study tested a new way to prevent the body from rejecting a donated kidney. Twenty people who received a kidney from a deceased donor were given two types of antibodies (alemtuzumab and infliximab) right after transplant, followed by just one maintenance drug (tacrolimus or sirolimus) instead of the usual steroid-containing cocktail. The goal was to see if this simpler, steroid-free regimen could keep the kidney working well and keep patients alive for at least one year.