Immunosuppressive Drugs
The Use of Immunosuppressive Drugs
In Organ Transplants
Chelsae Smith
Abstract
The use of immunosuppressive drugs in the organ transplant setting has become vital to the survival of the patient. This paper will discuss the importance of immunosuppressive drugs through the stages of induction therapy, maintenance therapy, and treatment of acute rejection. Categories of immunosuppressive drugs will be discussed in terms of each category’s action of stopping the acute rejection. Acute rejection will also be researched in order to better understand which immunosuppressive drug will intervene the rejection process and where. The purpose of the immune system in comparison to the purpose of immunosuppressive drugs will be compared; the immunosuppressive drugs leave the body defenseless. However despite the downsides to immunosuppressive, emphasis will be shown to the importance of immunosuppressive drugs on the length, and quality of a transplant recipient’s life.
The Use of Immunosuppressive Drugs
In Organ Transplants The body is similar to a soldier; it is programmed to recognize any threats to itself in order to defend itself from these things. Skin surrounds the body like a shield of armor, preventing anything unwanted from entering. What does manage to infiltrate the body will be examined by the immune system, then determined to be an ally or enemy. When a breach of security is detected, weapons are at the body’s disposal like any soldier. Cells, antibodies, macrophages and lymphocytes are simply a preview to the large arsenal the body contains. If recognized as a threat, the body will do anything in its power to destroy this substance and protect itself. Unfortunately for organ transplant recipients, transplants also fall into the category of a potential threat to the body. Transplants will trigger a natural response from the immune system to eliminate or neutralize the graft, a process known as rejection (Hoffman, Nelson, Drangstveit, Flynn,
In Organ Transplants
Chelsae Smith
Abstract
The use of immunosuppressive drugs in the organ transplant setting has become vital to the survival of the patient. This paper will discuss the importance of immunosuppressive drugs through the stages of induction therapy, maintenance therapy, and treatment of acute rejection. Categories of immunosuppressive drugs will be discussed in terms of each category’s action of stopping the acute rejection. Acute rejection will also be researched in order to better understand which immunosuppressive drug will intervene the rejection process and where. The purpose of the immune system in comparison to the purpose of immunosuppressive drugs will be compared; the immunosuppressive drugs leave the body defenseless. However despite the downsides to immunosuppressive, emphasis will be shown to the importance of immunosuppressive drugs on the length, and quality of a transplant recipient’s life.
The Use of Immunosuppressive Drugs
In Organ Transplants The body is similar to a soldier; it is programmed to recognize any threats to itself in order to defend itself from these things. Skin surrounds the body like a shield of armor, preventing anything unwanted from entering. What does manage to infiltrate the body will be examined by the immune system, then determined to be an ally or enemy. When a breach of security is detected, weapons are at the body’s disposal like any soldier. Cells, antibodies, macrophages and lymphocytes are simply a preview to the large arsenal the body contains. If recognized as a threat, the body will do anything in its power to destroy this substance and protect itself. Unfortunately for organ transplant recipients, transplants also fall into the category of a potential threat to the body. Transplants will trigger a natural response from the immune system to eliminate or neutralize the graft, a process known as rejection (Hoffman, Nelson, Drangstveit, Flynn,