Table 2.

Proposed schedule of prednisone tapering during remission-induction therapy in children[2,12]

	Prednisone mg/kg/d	Azathioprine
Week 1	2.0	Check transaminase levels every week before reducing the prednisone dose: if transaminase levels stop decreasing, add azathioprine starting with 0.5 mg/kg per day, if jaundice is subsiding, at increasing doses up to 2-2.5 mg/kg/d until biochemical control
Week 2	1.75
Week 3	1.50
Week 4	1.25
Week 5	1.00
Week 6	0.75
Week 7	0.50
Week 8-9	0.25
Week 10-11	0.10-0.20
If severe steroid side effects: consider reducing to 2.5 mg/d for 2 wk and then stopping prednisone