Immunologic agents immunity

The expected outcomes of the patient may include an optimal response to the immunologic agent, management of common adverse drug effects, and an understanding of and compliance with the prescribed immunization schedule ... 

Unit X discusses drugp that affect the immune system. The unit consists of two chapters immunologic agents and antineoplastic drugs. 

Various drugs are capable of affecting specific immune reactions. They can both increase the general resistivity of the body or its nonspecific immunity, as well as suppress the body s immune reactions. Hence controlling diseases with immunological agents means either generation of the necessary immunity in the body, or suppression of undesirable immune reactions. 

Mechanism of Action An immunologic agent that antagonizes purine metabolism and inhibits DNA, protein, and RNA synthesis. Therapeutic Effect Suppresses cell-mediated hypersensitivities alters antibody production and immune response in transplant recipients reduces the severity of arthritis symptoms. 

The immunological agents are the agents which produce active or passive immunity and are used to prevent or to modify certain infectious disease. Immunity can be defined as the ability of the body to neutralize and eliminate the pathogens and their toxic products. 

Advances in immunology during the last part of the twentieth century have continued at a rapid rate and cytokines and immune cells having specific markers continue to be defined. A number of natural and synthetic immunotherapeutic agents have been discovered that can modulate components of the normal or aberrant immune system, through stimulation or suppression. However, most of these substances also have inherent adverse side effects. 

Immunologic Toxicity—The occurrence of adverse effects on the immune system that may result from exposure to environmental agents such as chemicals. 

Cholera toxin and related toxins act as immune modulators, with potential use as adjuvants and as therapeutic agents in the treatment of immunologically mediated human disease. 

Polyclonal antibody preparations have been used for several decades to induce passive immunization against infectious diseases and other harmful agents, particularly toxins. The antibody preparations are usually administered by direct i.v. injection. While this affords immediate immunological protection, its effect is transitory, usually persisting for only 2-3 weeks (i.e. until the antibodies are excreted). Passive immunization can be used prophylactically (i.e. to prevent a future medical episode) or therapeutically (i.e. to treat a medical condition that is already established). An example of the former would be prior administration of a specific anti-snake toxin antibody preparation to an individual before they travel to a world region in which these snakes are commonly found. An example of the latter would be administration of the anti-venom antibody immediately after the individual has experienced a snake bite. 

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