Immunosuppressive drug
Immunosuppressive drug
Immunosuppressive drugs (pronunciation: im·mu·no·sup·pres·sive drugs) are a class of medications that are used to inhibit or prevent the activity of the immune system. They are used in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, and in some cases, cancer.
Etymology
The term "immunosuppressive" is derived from the Latin words "immunis" meaning exempt, and "suppressus" meaning to press down. Thus, immunosuppressive drugs are those that press down or inhibit the immune system.
Types of Immunosuppressive Drugs
There are several types of immunosuppressive drugs, including:
- Corticosteroids: These are often used in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs. They work by reducing inflammation and suppressing the body's immune response.
- Calcineurin inhibitors: These include drugs like cyclosporine and tacrolimus, which inhibit the action of calcineurin, a protein involved in the activation of T cells of the immune system.
- Antiproliferative agents: These include drugs like azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil, which inhibit the proliferation of immune cells.
- Biologic agents: These include drugs like rituximab and infliximab, which target specific components of the immune system.
Side Effects
Like all medications, immunosuppressive drugs can have side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of infections due to the suppression of the immune system.
Related Terms
- Immunosuppression: The reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system.
- Immunomodulatory drug: A type of drug that modifies the immune response or the functioning of the immune system.
- Immunotherapy: The treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Immunosuppressive drug
- Wikipedia's article - Immunosuppressive drug
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