Immunosuppression armamentarium in 2010: mechanistic and clinical considerations.
Effective immunosuppression is the key to successful organ transplantation, with success being defined as minimal rejection risk with concomitant minimal drug toxicities. Despite the general recognition of this fact, a paucity of appropriate clinical trials in children has contributed to lack of standardization of clinical management regimens, resulting in an extensive diversity of favored approaches. Nonetheless, although consensus has not been reached on the ideal approach to immunosuppression in pediatric transplantation, new drug therapies have contributed to a continuing improvement in graft and patient survival. Future clinical research must focus on diminishing the extensive burden of toxicities of these therapeutic agents in children.
Urschel
Simon
S
Cardiac Transplant Research, University of Alberta, Alberta Diabetes Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
Altamirano-Diaz
Luis A
LA
West
Lori J
LJ
D002648:Child; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016377:Organ Transplantation
D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents