Research

Immunosuppressive Drugs and Liver Transplants

In Vitro Correlates of Transplant Tolerance in Children Off Immunosuppression

Protocol Description

Despite recent major advances in organ transplants, patients receiving transplanted organs must often remain on immunosuppressive (antirejection) medication for the rest of their lives. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of certain research blood tests-both genetic blood tests and immunologic blood tests-which may help tell which liver-transplant patients can stop taking immunosuppressive drugs without losing their newly transplanted livers.

Eligibility Criteria

Four groups of liver-transplant patients will be studied in this study. Subjects who have stopped taking immunosuppressive drugs and who show no sign of rejecting their transplanted liver. Subjects who have attempted to stop taking immunosuppressive drugs but who have showed signs of rejection. Subjects who have not attempted to stop taking immunosuppressive drugs but have shown signs of rejection. Subjects currently enrolled in a liver transplant protocol in which immunosuppression has been initiated, and for whom an attempt to withdraw immunosuppression will be made in the future as part of the standard care of the transplant patients.

View Patient and Family Fact Sheet (PDF)
View Consent Form for Children Under Age 18 (PDF)
View Consent Form for Adults (PDF)