title: The effects of immunosuppressive drugs on human immunocompetence.
abstract: Immunosuppressive drugs are agents capable of suppressing the development of at least one type of immune response in vivo at doses with minimal side-effects. After an introduction in which different types of immune responses are briefly discussed, some characteristics regarding the mechanism of action of prednisolone, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and anti-lymphocyte serum (ALS) will be reviewed. Corticosteroids display mainly an anti-inflammatory effect. The immunosuppressive effect of azathioprine is questionable, cyclophosphamide influences the immune system itself and ALS suppresses fairly specific cellular immunity.
mesh_terms: D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000187:drug effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000276:immunology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine