A drug that reduces the body’s resistance to infection and other foreign agents. It does so by suppressing the activity of the immune system (see IMMUNITY). Examples of such drugs are AZATHIOPRINE, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE and CICLOSPORIN A. Immunosuppressants are used to help transplanted organs and tissues to survive the potential immune reaction from the host. They are also used to treat AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS such as RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.
An agent that acts to suppress the body’s natural immune response. This is totally understandable in tissue and organ transplants, and in some dangerous inflammatory conditions, but nearly all anti-inflammatory medications are immunosuppressant, including cortisone, antihistamines, and even aspirin. Some medical radicals are convinced that the chronic viral and fungal disorders of our age are partially facilitated by such medications.
n. a drug, such as *azathioprine or *cyclophosphamide, that reduces the body’s resistance to infection and other foreign bodies by suppressing the immune system. Immunosuppressants are used to maintain the survival of organ and tissue transplants and to treat various *autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (see disease-modifying antirheumatic drug). *Ciclosporin is the immunosuppressant usually used in organ transplant recipients. Because immunity is lowered during treatment with immunosuppressants, there is an increased susceptibility to infection and certain types of cancer.
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