Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
For medications, the term immunosuppression generally refers to both beneficial and potential adverse effects of decreasing the function of the immune system, while the term immunodeficiency generally refers solely to the adverse effect of increased risk for infection. Many specific diseases directly or indirectly cause immunosuppression.
Immunosuppression is a reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immunosuppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reaction to treatment of other conditions.
Cyclophosphamide (Baxter's Cytoxan) is probably the most potent immunosuppressive compound. In small doses, it is very efficient in the therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hemolytic anemias, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and other immune diseases. High doses cause pancytopenia and hemorrhagic cystitis.
An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens (bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses) that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available.These opportunities can stem from a variety of sources, such as a weakened immune system (as can occur in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or when being treated with immunosuppressive drugs, as in cancer treatment), [1] an altered ...
An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a normal body part. [5] There are at least 80 types of autoimmune diseases. [5] Nearly any body part can be involved. Common symptoms include low-grade fever and feeling tired. [5] Often symptoms come and go. [5]
In addition to Ig replacement therapy, treatment may also involve immune suppressants to control autoimmune symptoms of the disease and high-dose steroids like corticosteroids. [22] In some cases, antibiotics are used to fight chronic lung disease resulting from CVID. [28]
Humoral immune deficiencies are conditions which cause impairment of humoral immunity, which can lead to immunodeficiency.It can be mediated by insufficient number or function of B cells, the plasma cells they differentiate into, or the antibody secreted by the plasma cells. [7]
In the 1970s while working at the Medical Research Council, Allison investigated the biochemical causes of immune deficiency in children. He discovered the metabolic pathway involving an enzyme, inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase , which is responsible for undesirable immune response in autoimmune diseases , as well as for immune rejection in ...