Immunosuppression
Updates to Article Attributes
Immunosuppression is the reductionimpairment of the body's immune system which can alter the ability of the body's defence mechanisms to prevent diseases, particularly certain infections and, including opportunistic infections, and cancers.
Terminology
Patients with immunosuppression are said to be immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. A patient An individual with a normal functioning immune system or a previously immunocompromised patient whose immune system has recovered is said to be immunocompetent.
A medication that causes immunosuppression can be described as immunosuppressive or an immunosuppressant.
Pathology
Aetiology
Immunosuppression has a large number of possible causes. It is sometimes intentional, for example preparing the body for bone marrow transplantation or preventing rejection of organ transplants. Other times it is an unfortunate side-effect, e.g. chemotherapy for cancer.
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iatrogenesis
- medication
- immunotherapies
- chemotherapy
- antirejection agents
- to treat disease (e.g. autoimmune diseases)
- ionising radiation
- surgery (e.g. splenectomy)
- other procedures e.g. plasmapheresis
- medication
- immune disorders e.g. AIDS, lymphoma
- systemic disorders e.g. diabetes mellitus
- malignancy
- chronic renal failure
- cirrhosis and alcoholism
- malnutrition
- genetic e.g. SCID
- radiation sickness e.g. nuclear accidents
See also
-<p><strong>Immunosuppression</strong> is the reduction of the body's <a href="/articles/immunity">immune system</a> which can alter the ability of the body's defence mechanisms to prevent diseases, particularly certain infections and cancers. </p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Patients with immunosuppression are said to be <strong>immunosuppressed</strong> or <strong>immunocompromised</strong>. A patient with a normal functioning immune system or a previously immunocompromised patient whose immune system has recovered is said to be <strong>immunocompetent</strong>. </p><p>A medication that causes immunosuppression can be described as <strong>immunosuppressive</strong> or <strong>immunosuppressant</strong>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>Immunosuppression has a large number of possible causes. It is sometimes intentional, for example preparing the body for <a href="/articles/haematopoietic-stem-cell-transplantation">bone marrow transplantation</a> or preventing rejection of organ transplants. Other times it is an unfortunate side-effect, e.g. chemotherapy for cancer.</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Immunosuppression</strong> is the impairment of the body's <a href="/articles/immunity">immune system</a> which can alter the ability of the body's defence mechanisms to prevent diseases, particularly certain infections, including <a href="/articles/opportunistic-infection">opportunistic infections</a>, and cancers. </p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Patients with immunosuppression are said to be <strong>immunosuppressed</strong> or <strong>immunocompromised</strong>. An individual with a normal functioning immune system or a previously immunocompromised patient whose immune system has recovered is said to be <strong>immunocompetent</strong>. </p><p>A medication that causes immunosuppression can be described as <strong>immunosuppressive</strong> or an <strong>immunosuppressant</strong>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>Immunosuppression has a large number of possible causes. It is sometimes intentional, for example preparing the body for <a href="/articles/haematopoietic-stem-cell-transplantation">bone marrow transplantation</a> or preventing rejection of organ transplants. Other times it is an unfortunate side-effect, e.g. chemotherapy for cancer.</p><ul>