Immunosuppressant Therapy

Question 1

What is an immunosuppressant drug?

Answer 1

drug used to prevent production of antibodies

Question 2

What are two primary reasons that immunosuppressant drugs are used?

Answer 2

1. ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

2. autoimmune diseases

Question 3

What are the secondary immunodeficiencies?

Answer 3

malnutrition, infection, cancer, renal disease, sarcoidosis, transplant recipients, DM

Question 4

What is a primary immunodeficiency?

Answer 4

genetic, hereditary
are a group of more than 250 rare, chronic disorders in which part of the body’s immune system is missing or functions improperly.

Question 5

What is a secondary immune deficiency?

Answer 5

acquired!!!

disease occurs when the immune system is compromised due to an environmental facto

Question 6

How do immunodeficiencies present clinically?

Answer 6

• persistant infections that occur more frequently and don’t respond to Rx.
• failure to thrive
• physical and developmental disorders noted at birth (face, heart, skeleton)
• doesnt achieve or maintain physical growth and development for age

Question 7

What is “normal healthy immune system” in a child?

Answer 7

average of 4-8 respiratory infections a year for first 10-12 years
mean duration is 8 days, but can last up to 2 weeks
children in day care or older siblings=more infections

Question 8

Primary care of immunocompromised child is?

Answer 8

• quick aggressive treatment of infections may require rx
• no live vaccines (no household gets oral polio, other live vaccines fine)
• blood transfusion = leukocyte poor, virus free, irradiated

Question 9

What are live virus vaccines that immunocompromised children cannot get?

Answer 9

rotavirus, varicells, MMR, intranasal influenza, oral polio