Immunosuppressive Drugs for Kidney Transplantation

Suppression of allograft rejection is central to successful organ transplantation; thus, immunosuppressive agents are crucial for successful allograft function. Immunosuppressive drugs are used for induction (intense immunosuppression in the initial days after transplantation), maintenance, and reversal of established rejection. This review considers the use of immunosuppressive drugs in organ transplantation, focusing on renal transplantation. This review considers the use of immunosuppressive drugs in organ transplantation, focusing on renal transplantation. The central issue in organ transplantation remains suppression of allograft rejection. Thus, development of immunosuppressive drugs is the key to successful allograft function. Immunosuppressive agents are used for induction (intense immunosuppression in the initial days after transplantation), maintenance, and reversal of established rejection. This review focuses on agents that are either approved or in phase 2 or phase 3 trials in kidney transplantation, but many issues covered here are applicable to all organ transplantation. I begin with a model of the alloimmune response to illustrate how these medications act. Three-Signal Model of Alloimmune Responses Alloimmune responses involve both naive and . . .