Pharmacologic Suppression of the Immune Response

Autoimmune responses seem to be the underlying basis for a number of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis/der-matomyositis, and several other disorders.25,27,44 As indicated previously, it is not exactly clear what factors cause autoimmune responses, as well as why certain individuals are more prone to autoimmune-related diseases. Nonetheless, drugs that suppress the immune system can limit damage to various other tissues, and these drugs may produce dramatic improvements in patients with diseases that are caused by an autoimmune response. 

Drugs commonly used to suppress the immune system are listed in Table 37-1 the pharmacology of specific agents follows. 

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