How do corticosteroids help during an organ transplant rejection crisis?

Corticosteroids, such as cortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone, function as immunosuppressants that inhibit the immune system to prevent or treat the rejection of a transplanted organ.12

During an active rejection crisis, these drugs are considered essential for most transplant recipients. They are frequently used in combination with other immunosuppressive agents—such as calcineurin inhibitors, antiproliferative drugs, or antimetabolites—to manage the body's response to the graft. By suppressing the immune activity that would otherwise target the foreign organ, corticosteroids help stabilize the patient during these critical periods.12

While highly effective, their use requires careful management due to potential side effects, including an increased susceptibility to infections, weight gain, bone brittleness, and the development of diabetes.1