Stopping prednisone while on Belatacept.

[Hawk12]

I am 73 and next month I will be 3 years out from my kidney transplant. I received a deceased donor kidney and was a 6 antigen match. My renal function improved until it was in the normal range at one year post op, but then gradually deteriorated. After many tests over the next year it was determined that I had CNI toxicity. My tacrolimus was stopped and I was started on belatacept. My eGFR improved but is still only 34.

I am diabetic and have fungal skin infections and would like to stop my 5 mg prednisone. I am also on Mycophenolate . Has anyone been able to stop prednisone while on belatcept?

[HSP1965]

Goedenavond,Ikzelf ben 4,5 jaar geleden getransplanteerd en gebruik prograft en prednison 5 mg.

Wil ook stoppen met de prednison doordat ik veel huidklachten heb en tril.

Ik ga dan over op cellcept.

[Hawk12 in reply to HSP1965]

Good luck to you!

[Darlenia]

Oh wow! I understand a 6 antigen match is a perfect or near perfect match. If that's true, I think, too, it might be possible to drop the prednisone. But I'm definitely not an expert. Only your transplant team will be able to determine that. I'd definitely bring it up. Very sorry to hear about your tacrolimus toxicity, but glad your team managed to figure it out. My husband, also a diabetic, has an eGFR similar to yours; his prognosis is good. He's 75 years old now and is 3+ years post transplant like you. His match was average and he received a kidney from a man who had been deceased for a while. The donor also had fungal issues so my husband was treated for that immediately post op. So perhaps there may be something they can do for you if dropping Prednisone isn't on the table. Hope your next visit with your nephrologist(s) goes well!

[Hawk12 in reply to Darlenia]

Thank you Darlenia! 😊

[Damigi28]

Hi, I doubt they will take you off of prednisone, especially due to your GFR decrease. When my gfr was great, they said I would never be able to stop prednisone.

[Hawk12 in reply to Damigi28]

Thank you Damigi28! My appointment is next month. I’m going to push hard - we’ll see!