Rapid Steroid Withdrawal after Renal Transplantation Reduces Mortality: Five Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial (Harmony Study) Confirms Long Term Efficacy and Safety

Background: We previously reported excellent efficacy and improved safety aspects of rapid steroid withdrawal (RSWD) in the randomized controlled one year “Harmony” trial, in which 587 predominantly deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients were randomized either to basiliximab or rabbit ATG induction therapy and compared to standard immunosuppressive therapy consisting of basiliximab, low tacrolimus once daily, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. Methods: Following the end of the original one-year study period, patients were asked to participate in the observational follow-up (FU) study examining most of the end points of the original study. Hereby, de novo incidences between yea…