immunosuppression
Weakening body defenses
Immunosuppression is the dampening or blocking of the body's immune response.
It can be intentional—doctors use immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ rejection after transplants or to treat autoimmune diseases where the body attacks itself.
It can also be unintentional, as when diseases like HIV or certain medications weaken immune function: The chemotherapy caused severe immunosuppression.
Move tissue between bodies
- antirejectionPreventing transplant failure
- cyclosporineImmunosuppressive transplant drug
- methotrexateAntifolate chemotherapy agent
- corticosteroidsInflammation-suppressing steroid medications
prednisone · biologics · chemotherapy · induction · maintenance · dosing · tapering · protocol
Chronic autoimmune disorder
- rheumatoidImmune-mediated joint inflammation
- psoriasisImmune system attacks skin cells
- Crohn'sChronic intestinal inflammation disorder
- colitisInflamed large intestine
multiple sclerosis · HIV · AIDS · leukemia · lymphoma · graft-versus-host · rejection · flare
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- leukopeniaLow white cell count
- anemiaRed cell deficiency
- bone marrowBlood cell birthplace
- exposureState of being unprotected
Thymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- B-cellsAntibody-secreting immune cells
- lymphocytesAdaptive immunity cells
- neutropeniaInsufficient neutrophils in blood
- leukopeniaLow white cell count
antibodies · cytokines · bone marrow · thymus · spleen · white blood cells · humoral
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- opportunisticExploiting circumstances for gain
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- defenselessWithout means to resist
risk · exposure · pathogens · bacteria · viruses · fungi · parasites · cytomegalovirus
transplant
Move tissue between bodies
- antirejectionPreventing transplant failure
- cyclosporineImmunosuppressive transplant drug
- methotrexateAntifolate chemotherapy agent
corticosteroids · prednisone · biologics · chemotherapy · induction · maintenance · dosing · tapering · protocol
lupus
Chronic autoimmune disorder
- rheumatoidImmune-mediated joint inflammation
- psoriasisImmune system attacks skin cells
- Crohn'sChronic intestinal inflammation disorder
colitis · multiple sclerosis · HIV · AIDS · leukemia · lymphoma · graft-versus-host · rejection · flare · remission
cancer
Uncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- leukopeniaLow white cell count
- anemiaRed cell deficiency
- bone marrowBlood cell birthplace
T-cells
Thymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- B-cellsAntibody-secreting immune cells
- lymphocytesAdaptive immunity cells
- neutropeniaInsufficient neutrophils in blood
leukopenia · antibodies · cytokines · bone marrow · thymus · spleen · white blood cells · humoral
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- opportunisticExploiting circumstances for gain
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
defenseless · risk · exposure · pathogens · bacteria · viruses · fungi · parasites · cytomegalovirus · candidiasis
- immunityantibodies, T cells, lymphocytes, white blood cells, vaccine
- drug effectsanalgesia, allergic reaction, stimulation, vasodilation, vasoconstriction
- Drug Risksadverse reactions, side effects, drug interactions, overdose, toxicity
- immunologyantibodies, antigens, T cells, white blood cells, lymphocytes
- Immunotoxicologyantibodies, antigens, autoantibodies, T cells, cytokines
- Transplant Complicationsgraft rejection, organ rejection, organ failure
immunosuppressionimmunostimulation
Enhancing defensive biological responses
immunocompetence · autoimmunity · inflammation · immune boosting · immune response
immunosuppressionimmunotherapy
Disease treatment via body's defenses
vaccination · immune boosting · immunization · immune support · CAR-T therapy