Steroid-Free Versus Steroid-Based Immunosuppression in Pediatric Renal (Kidney) Transplantation

"Steroid-Based Immunosuppression(Prednisone) arm: 1 mg/kg pre-transplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 (e.g., standard dose of daclizumab induction until the second month post-transplant)~Steroid-Free Immunosuppression (Extended daclizumab induction) arm: 2 mg/kg pre-transplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, and months 4, 5, and 6 (e.g., extended daclizumab induction until the sixth month post-transplant)"

Intravenous MMF was dosed at 1200 mg/m\^2/day in two divided doses preoperatively and for the first 48 hours postoperatively. Oral MMF was dosed at 600 to 900 mg/m\^2/day in two divided doses; the dose range allowed for dose titration according to tolerability and side effects of MMF. This regimen was used in both arms.

Administered as 10 mg/kg peri-operatively followed by 2 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \<40 kg and 1.5 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \>40 kg. The prednisone dosing was tapered as follows: by the end of wks 1, 2, 4,6,12 and 16, dosages were 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.15 and 0.1 mg/kg/day, respectively. The prednisone dose of 0.1 mg/kg was achieved by no later than 6 months post-transplant.

Taken orally from immediately preoperatively to those\>age 5 yrs. (starting dose= 0.1 mg/kg/dose twice daily (BID) for living donor recipients; 0.1 mg/kg/dose daily for deceased donor recipients).Subjects \<age 5 yrs. received drug from immediately preoperatively at 0.15 mg/kg/dose BID (two preoperative doses) for living donor recipients and 0.15 mg/kg/dose daily (one preoperative dose) for deceased donor recipients. Postoperatively: 0.07 mg/kg/dose BID w/adjustment to achieve target levels of 12-14 ng/mL (days 0-7), 10-12 ng/mL (wks. 2-8), 7-10 ng/mL (wks. 9-12) \&5-7 ng/mL \>= 12 wks. Evidence of drug toxicity on any protocol biopsy resulted in a further lowering of the drug target level to 4-6 ng/mL before yr 1 \& 3-5 ng/mL after yr 1 post-transplant. This regimen was used in both arms.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Prophylaxis: All participants will receive intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg/day beginning after transplantation until tolerating oral medications, at which time oral valganciclovir will be initiated and continued for a minimum of 100 days.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Prophylaxis: All participants will receive intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg/day beginning after transplantation until tolerating oral medications, at which time oral valganciclovir will be initiated and continued for a minimum of 100 days.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)/Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Prophylaxis: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra®) 2 mg/kg by mouth will be administered daily at bedtime for a minimum period of the first 6 months post-transplant. If unable to tolerate Septra®, inhaled pentamidine (8 mg/kg to a maximum dose of 300 mg monthly) or Dapsone (2 mg/kg PO to a maximum dose of 100 mg/day) may be substituted for a minimum of the first 6 months post-transplant. For UTI prophylaxis, if Septra® is not tolerated, nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin®), 2.5 mg/kg/day, may be given at bedtime up to a maximum dose of 100 mg/day.