Immunosuppression

Immunosuppression is a reduction of the activation or <a href="/facts/Efficacy/PNlTeDtD">efficacy</a> of the <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immune system</a>. Some portions of the immune system itself have immunosuppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reaction to treatment of other conditions.
In general, deliberately induced immunosuppression is performed to prevent the body from <a href="/facts/Transplant_rejection/d9jSqs2x">rejecting</a> an <a href="/facts/Organ_transplant/1jNvVJn6">organ transplant</a>. Additionally, it is used for treating <a href="/facts/Graft-versus-host_disease/UjspvMVa">graft-versus-host disease</a> after a <a href="/facts/Bone_marrow_transplant/rGYRsATD">bone marrow transplant</a>, or for the treatment of <a href="/facts/Auto-immune_disease/sojBeQ7t">auto-immune diseases</a> such as <a href="/facts/Systemic_lupus_erythematosus/kfHYawre">systemic lupus erythematosus</a>, <a href="/facts/Rheumatoid_arthritis/qFK4Xwv7">rheumatoid arthritis</a>, <a href="/facts/Sj%25C3%25B6gren%2527s_syndrome/U1p9IbFU">Sjögren's syndrome</a>, or <a href="/facts/Crohn%2527s_disease/zm55cBtd">Crohn's disease</a>. This is typically done using medications, but may involve surgery (<a href="/facts/Splenectomy/oFGhehpQ">splenectomy</a>), <a href="/facts/Plasmapheresis/pt2AfdrU">plasmapheresis</a>, or radiation. A person who is undergoing immunosuppression, or whose immune system is weak for some other reasons (such as <a href="/facts/Chemotherapy/fWTLbaUT">chemotherapy</a> or <a href="/facts/HIV/ulY2rgzu">HIV</a>), is said to be <a href="/facts/Immunocompromised/CIEujXmc">immunocompromised</a>.

Immunosuppression open-in-new

Immunosuppression