Last reviewed 2026-04-22 · How we verify

standard maintenance immunosuppression

Standard maintenance immunosuppression refers to a combination regimen of immunosuppressive agents used to prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients by suppressing T-cell and B-cell mediated immune responses.

Standard maintenance immunosuppression refers to a combination regimen of immunosuppressive agents used to prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients by suppressing T-cell and B-cell mediated immune responses. Used for Prevention of organ rejection in solid organ transplant recipients (kidney, heart, liver, lung), Maintenance of graft function in transplant patients.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

This is not a single drug but rather a clinical protocol combining multiple immunosuppressive agents (typically calcineurin inhibitors, corticosteroids, and antimetabolites) to maintain long-term graft tolerance. The combination approach targets different points in the immune cascade to provide synergistic suppression while minimizing individual drug toxicity through dose optimization.

Approved indications

• Prevention of organ rejection in solid organ transplant recipients (kidney, heart, liver, lung)
• Maintenance of graft function in transplant patients

Common side effects

• Infection (bacterial, viral, fungal)
• Nephrotoxicity
• Hypertension
• Hyperglycemia
• Bone loss/osteoporosis
• Malignancy

Key clinical trials

• Tocilizumab in Lung Transplantation (PHASE2)
• Study of Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetic (PK) and Pharmacodynamic (PD) of an Anti-CD40 Monoclonal Antibody, CFZ533, in Kidney Transplant Recipients (PHASE2)
• Reduced Immunosuppression in Older Renal Transplant Recipients With Trugraf®/TRAC Monitoring (RIOT Trial): A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Trial. (PHASE4)
• A Platform Protocol to Investigate Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide-Based Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies Undergoing Mismatched Unrelated Donor Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (PHASE2)
• Tocilizumab in Cardiac Transplantation (PHASE2)
• Valganciclovir Prophylaxis Versus Preemptive Therapy for Cytomegalovirus in Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients (PHASE4)
• Lung and Bone Marrow Transplantation for Lung and Bone Marrow Failure (PHASE1, PHASE2)
• CD40-L Blockade for Prevention of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (PHASE1)

Primary sources

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