Immunosuppresants

Question 1

what are immunosuppressants?

Answer 1

mmunosuppressant drugs are used in immune-mediated
diseases; auto-immune conditions and organ
transplantation

They work by interrupting the synthesis and function of
specific T-Lymphocyte cell lines

these t-lymphocytes are CD4 and CD8 (helper T cell and cytotoxic cell)

Question 2

why would the nurse be careful with bleeding in immunosuppressed patients?

Answer 2

because of thrombocytopenia (low platelets)

platelets are produced in the bone marrow and since immunosupprants decrease bone marrow, youre more at risk of bleeding out and dying

Question 3

humeral immune system consist of?

Answer 3

B-lymphocytes (memory) and plasma cells (antibody
production

Question 4

what’s active immunity vs passive immunity?

Answer 4

active
1) natural - you get and infection and your body gets its own antibodies
2) artificial - basically exposure through vaccines so body can make antibodies

passive
1) natural - from mom to fetus through placenta or breastfeeding
2) artificial - someone already has the antibodies and you receive them from plasma transfusion or some sort of transfusion. this is usually used when you have a life/death situation where you need to receive antibodies ASAP and doctors dont have time to wait for your body to produce them on their own

Question 5

how do passive immunizing drugs work?

Answer 5

Drugs containing antibodies or antitoxins that can kill or inactivate pathogens by binding to the associated antigens. These are directly injected into
a person (host) and provide that person with the means to fend off infection, bypassing the host’s own immune system.

Question 6

what is a biologic drug?

Answer 6

Biologic drugs come from living organisms or from their cells. example insulin which was made from beef/pork

Question 7

what is a cytotoxic drug?

Answer 7

preventing their replication or growth of cells

used in biologic and immunosuppressant drugs

Question 8

what are interferons?

Answer 8

Interferons are proteins that have three basic properties: they are antiviral, antitumour, and immunomodulating.

Question 9

when are interferons used?

Answer 9

Interferons are most commonly used in the treatment of certain viral infections and certain types of cancer.

Question 10

how does interferon help?

Answer 10

interferons are identical to cytokines in the body.

interferons have three different effects on the immune system. They can (1) restore its function if it is impaired, (2) augment its ability to function as the body’s defence, and (3) inhibit it from working. This latter function may be particularly useful when the immune system has become dysfunctional, causing an autoimmune disease.