Immunosuppressive agents side effects

Initially, the immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclophosphamide (32), azathioprine, and methotrexate, were developed to inhibit malignant cell proliferation. The immunosuppressant activity was discovered later and these agents were then applied to treat autoimmune diseases, where patients did not respond to high doses of steroids (51). The potential side effects associated with these agents have encouraged the search for unique immunosuppressants having more acceptable safety and efficacy profiles (62). Future approaches need to incorporate early treatment with immunotherapy... 

The major classes of immunosuppressive drugs employed in clinical practice to avoid tissue rejection include calcineurin inhibitors, target of rapamycin (TOR) inhibitors, sphingosine-1 -phosphate receptor (S1P-R) modulators, cytotoxic agents, glucocorticoids and monoclonal antibodies. These drugs need to be used on a lifelong basis and have major undesirable side effects. 

Adalimumab Humira Subcutaneous injection 40 mg every week if used alone 40 mg every other week if used in combination with other antiarthritic agents such as methotrexate. Relatively low incidence of serious side effects compared to other immunosuppressants. 

CONTENTS Preface. Bruce E. Maryanoff and Cynthia A. Maryanoft. Novel An-tipsychotics with Unique D /5-HT1A Affinity and Minimal Extrapyramidal Side Effect Liability. Allen B. Reitz and Malcolm K. Scott. Antiplatelet and Antithrombotic Agents From Viper Venom Proteins, to Peptides and Peptidomimetics. to Small Organic Molecules, Peter L. Barker and Robert R. Webb. II. Discovery and Preclinical Development of the Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Sertraline, Willard M. Welch. Boronic Acid Inhibitors of Dipeptidyipeptidase IV A New Class of Immunosuppressive Agents, Roger J. Snow. Index. 

Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG, thymoglobulin) is a polyclonal rabbit antithymocyte globulin that has been used as an immunosuppressive agent in kidney and hver transplant patients. Despite a fairly high safety profile, reported side effects of ATG include hypertension, leucopenia and ARDS [109]. Renal adverse effects are extremely rare only two case reports describe the occurrence of acute renal failure in patients treated with ATG [110, 111]. Cessation of ATG therapy in both cases and plasmapheresis in one case resulted in full recovery. 

Prevention of Type-I diabetes mellitus is also an important target. Here, methods must be improved for the detection of relevant markers appearing in the blood before the destruction of B-cells by the immune system. In this connection, further development of immunosuppressive agents with minimal side effects and high specifity against B-cell destruction is necessary. 

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