Immune Modulators Flashcards
What is the main purpose of immune modulators?
To modify the actions of the immune system.
What are immune stimulants?
Used to boost our natural immune system.
What are immune suppressants?
Used to stunt the immune system.
What are Monoclonal antibodies?
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are laboratory-made proteins that can bind to specific targets in the body, such as cancer cells. Used to detect and treat.
What are Recombinant DNA technology?
Using bacteria to make chemicals that occur naturally in the body.
When are immune stimulants used?
When the body have been fighting an infection for a long time and need further help.
Where does Immune modulators work?
At different parts of the body to stimulate or suppress the immune system.
Immune modulators only suppress the immune system.
TRUE/FALSE
FALSE
They are stimulants AND suppressants.
What is the main action of Immune stimulants?
To energize the immune system when it needs help fighting a pathogen.
What is the main action of Immune suppressants?
To block the normal effects of the immune system in organ transplantation and autoimmune disorders.
Are Immune modulators tetarogenic?
They have found to be teratogenic in animal studies and are therefor not recommended in pregnancy or lactation.
What are some lifespan considerations that should be taken into account when giving immune modulators to a child?
Should be used with caution - monitor closely for infection, GI, renal, hematological or CNS effects.
Immune suppressants are needed in higher doses than adults.
Protect against infection and injury.
What are some lifespan considerations that should be taken into account when giving immune modulators to adults?
Teach proper injection technique.
Avoid infection and injury.
Contraindicated in pregnancy/lactation.
Some drug may impair fertility in both sexes such as decreasing sperm motility or the immune system may kill the sperm before fertilization may occur.
What are some lifespan considerations that should be taken into account when giving immune modulators to older adults?
Their immune system is less efficient and less responsive hence they are more susceptible to the drug effect.
Monitor renal and liver function to determine dosage.
More susceptible to infection - teach infection and injury prevention.
Why does children need higher doses of these drugs?
Due to the body surface to their body surface area to weight ratio and faster metabolism.
Older adults vice versa!
TRUE/FALSE
Immune modulators may be given as an injection
TRUE.
We should teach the patient how to properly inject the medication and have them demonstrate how to do it. We should also educate family members on how to inject the patient should they be unable to do this themselves as well as educate on any adverse reactions to the injection site.
What are the immune stimulants that we must know?
Interferons
Interleukins
Colony-stimulating factors
What are interferons?
Proteins that are naturally released from human cells in response to viral invasion.
They act in multiple ways to prevent the spreading of a virus within the body.
They are excreted by an infected cell and goes into a non infected cell and make antibody proteins so that those cells cannot become infected.
May also stimulate phagocytes and T-cells and can fight tumors.
Which immune stimulant increases the number of platelets?
Interleukins (think “leuk” for blood)
What does interferon alfa-2b do?
Interferon alfa-2b is a immune stimulator which prevents virus particles from replicating inside other cells.
Stimulates interferon receptors on noninvaded cells to produce antiviral proteins.
Inhibits tumor growth and replication.
Why would we give Interferon alfa-2b to a patient?
To help treat various cancers, hepatitis B&C and multiple sclerosis.
What is contraindicated to interferons?
Allergy and Pregnancy (teratogenic in animal studies)
What should we be cautious of when giving a patient interferons?
- Lactation
- Cardiac disease
- Myelosuppression (A condition in which bone marrow activity is decreased, resulting in fewer red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet)
- CNS dysfunction
- Alzheimer’s disease may be worsened.
What are some adverse reactions that may happen with interferons?
CNS effect such as Lethargy, Myalgia (muscle pain), arthralgia (joint paint), anorexia, nausea, headache, dizziness.
Bone marrow depression.
Worsening of Alzheimer’s disease.
Are there any drug-drug interactions with interferons? If so, what are they?
No know drug-drug interactions.
How does interleukins work on the body?
They are chemicals produced by t-cells to communicate between leukocytes. They increase the number of NKC’s and lymphocytes.
Activates cellular immunity and inhibits tumor growth.
Increases circulating platelets.
Why would we give Interleukins to a patient?
Aldesleukin : Specific renal carcinomas, possible treatment of AIDS and AIDS related disorders.
Oprelvekin: Prevention of severe thrombocytopenia after myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
Which bacteria is used to make Aldesleukin, Filgrastim and Pegfilgrastim?
E-coli
In what patients are Interleukins contraidicated?
Patients that have an allergy to them, patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
In what patients should we exhibit caution when giving Interleukins?
Patients who suffer from renal, liver or cardiovascular impairment.
What are the most common adverse reactions to interleukins?
CNS effect: Lethargy.
Myalgia, Arthralgia, Fever, Respiratory difficulties, Depression with suicidal ideation.
What are the Colony-Stimulating drug classes that we need to know?
Filgrastim
Pegfilgrastim
What does colony-stimulating factors do?
Increase production of neutrophils in the bone marrow with little effect on other hematopoietic cells.
Why would we administer Filgrastim to a patient?
To reduce the incidence of infection in patients with bone marrow suppressions, to decrease neutropenia associated with bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy and to help in the treatment of various blood-related cancers.
Colony stimulating factor
Why should we NOT give Colony-Stimulating Factors to patients with bone marrow cancer or sickle cell disease?
Because the drug will stimulate the production of the defected cell and make the conditions worse.
In what patients are Pegfilgrastim contraindicated?
- Patients with any sensitivity in products made with E-coli
- patients undergoing radiations and chemotherapy - it should be given after chemotherapy is finished and not during.
Colony stimulating factor