Effectiveness of immunosuppression minimisation, conversion or withdrawal strategies in paediatric solid organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Paediatric transplantation is the only curative therapeutic procedure for several end-stage rare diseases affecting different organs and body systems, causing altogether great impact in European children's health and quality of life. Transplanted children shift their primary disease to a chronic condition of immunosuppression to avoid rejection. Longer life expectancy in children poses a greater risk of prolonged and severe side effects related to long-term immunosuppressive (IS) disabilities and secondary cancer susceptibility.