When a client asks if corticosteroids will be needed indefinitely after a liver transplant, what should the nurse explain?

Corticosteroids play a crucial role in the management of organ transplant patients, primarily to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ, such as the liver. The correct response highlights that corticosteroids will be necessary for as long as the patient is undergoing antirejection therapy.

In the context of transplant care, corticosteroids are typically used in conjunction with other immunosuppressants to minimize the risk of the body rejecting the new organ. This therapy often continues long-term, as the risk of rejection does not diminish entirely after the initial healing phases. Therefore, patients will generally require ongoing corticosteroid treatment as part of their antirejection regimen to maintain the viability of the transplant and prevent complications.

While medical teams may adjust dosages or the specific immunosuppressive medications based on the individual patient's needs or response to treatment, the continuous need for corticosteroids as part of the antirejection protocol remains a foundational element of post-transplant care. This makes the selected response the most accurate and relevant in the context of a liver transplant patient's ongoing medication regimen.