IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS IN CLINICAL MEDICINE

Immunosuppressive drugs are agents capable of suppressing the developm ent of at least one type of immune response in vivo at doses with mini mal side-effects. Some characteristics regarding the mechanism of acti on of corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine an d monoclonal antibodies anti-CD3 are reviewed. Corticosteroids induce a redistribution of lymphocytes and display an anti-inflammatory effec t the immunosuppressive effect of azathioprine seems to consist mainly of its suppression of the inflammatory response; cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine influence the immune system itself and anti-CD3 monoclon al antibodies suppress cellular immunity fairly specifically. Finally, a brief summary of their use in renal disease, systemic vasculitis an d connective tissue diseases is given.