The primary benefit of corticosteroid therapy in transplantation is a reduced incidence of acute rejection. However, corticosteroids are associated with deleterious effects such as acne, bodyweight gain, cataracts, cushingoid appearance, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. These effects can occur within the first month of corticosteroid therapy; it is therefore preferable to avoid the use of such agents altogether if possible. Although corticosteroid-free transplantation was not successful in early trials, several new regimens have shown promising efficacy and tolerability, according to studies presented at the American Transplant Congress (ATC) [Washington DC, US; April-May 2002]. These studies demonstrated that induction therapy and maintenance therapy regimens in which corticosteroids were not used, or were withdrawn, were effective and well tolerated in adult and paediatric patients undergoing organ transplantation.