Immunosuppression

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Immunosuppression is the impairment of the body's immune system which can alter the ability of the body's defence mechanisms to prevent diseases, particularly certain infections, including opportunistic infections, and cancers.

Terminology

Patients with immunosuppression are said to be immunosuppressed, immunocompromised, or ~~immunocompromised~~immunodeficient. 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.

iatrogenesis
- medication
  - immunotherapies
  - chemotherapy
  - antirejection agents
  - to treat disease (e.g. autoimmune diseases)
- ionising radiation
- surgery (e.g. splenectomy)
- other procedures e.g. plasmapheresis
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

-<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>
+<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>, <strong>immunocompromised</strong>, or <strong>immunodeficient</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>