Questions and Answers
What is the mechanism of action of immunosuppressant drugs?
Which of the following drug(s) are used to prevent rejection of transplanted kidneys?
What is the purpose of the immune system?
To distinguish self from nonself and to protect the body from foreign material.
What are the two types of immunity?
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What are immunosuppressants?
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What is the mechanism of action of immunosuppressants?
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What are the major classes of immunosuppressants used to prevent organ rejection?
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What is the mechanism of action of corticosteroids?
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What is the mechanism of action of calcineurin inhibitors?
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What are examples of immunosuppressant drugs?
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What are indications for immunosuppressants?
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What are Muromonab-CD3, mycophenolate, and tacrolimus indicated for?
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What are Fingolimod and glatiramer indicated for?
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What are contraindications for immunosuppressants?
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What are adverse effects of immunosuppressants?
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What is the main adverse effect associated with cyclosporine and tacrolimus?
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What is the main adverse effect associated with corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus?
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What do patients taking immunosuppressant drugs need to avoid?
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What do immunosuppressant drugs interact with?
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Study Notes
Mechanism of Action
- Immunosuppressant drugs primarily target and suppress T-lymphocyte cell lines, which are crucial for immune responses.
- By inhibiting T-lymphocytes, these drugs help prevent immune reactions against transplanted organs.
Immunosuppressants for Organ Transplantation
- Basiliximab (Simulect) and daclizumab (Zenapax) are key drugs for preventing kidney transplant rejection, often combined with cyclosporine and corticosteroids.
- Azathioprine (Imuran) is also used, but basiliximab and daclizumab are specifically highlighted.
Purpose of the Immune System
- Protects the body from foreign antigens, including cancers and pathogens.
- Responsible for transplant rejection and can cause autoimmune diseases by mistakenly attacking self-tissues.
Types of Immunity
- Humoral immunity involves B lymphocytes and focuses on antibody production.
- Cellular immunity involves T lymphocytes, which are vital for direct cellular responses against pathogens.
Definition of Immunosuppressants
- These are drugs designed to reduce or prevent immune responses, thus facilitating organ transplant acceptance and treating various autoimmune conditions.
Classes of Immunosuppressants
- Major classes include glucocorticoids, calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, and biological agents.
Specific Mechanisms of Action
- Corticosteroids inhibit all stages of T-cell activation, offering broad-spectrum immunosuppression.
- Calcineurin inhibitors block the phosphate necessary for interleukin 2 production, crucial for T-cell activation.
Examples of Immunosuppressant Drugs
- Commonly used drugs: cyclosporine (Sandimmune), azathioprine (Imuran), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), daclizumab (Zenapax), sirolimus (Rapamune), basiliximab (Simulect), glatiramer acetate (Copaxone), tacrolimus (Prograf), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept).
Indications for Use
- Immunosuppressants are primarily indicated to prevent organ rejection, though they also treat various immune-mediated disorders.
Specific Indications
- Muromonab-CD3, mycophenolate, and tacrolimus are indicated for both organ rejection prevention and treatment.
- Fingolimod and glatiramer are specifically indicated for reducing relapse frequency in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Contraindications for Immunosuppressants
- Contraindications include known drug allergies, renal or hepatic failure, hypertension, ongoing radiation therapy, and caution in pregnancy.
Adverse Effects
- Increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and certain cancers, particularly skin cancer.
- Nephrotoxicity is a significant concern with cyclosporine and tacrolimus.
- Post-transplant diabetes risk is heightened with corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus.
Patient Precautions
- Patients must avoid live vaccines to mitigate the risk of infections due to compromised immunity.
Drug Interactions
- Immunosuppressants have narrow therapeutic windows, increasing the potential for drug interactions, necessitating careful monitoring.
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Test your knowledge on immunosuppressant drugs with these flashcards. Explore their mechanisms of action and the specific cells they target in the immune response. Perfect for students studying pharmacology or medicine.
