McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

17

Immune modulators

Learning objectives Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Describe the sites of actions of the various immune modulators.

2. Describe the therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, most common adverse effects and important drug–drug interactions associated with each class of immune stimulants and immune suppressants. 3. Discuss the use of immune modulators across the lifespan. 4. Compare and contrast the prototype drugs for each class of immune modulators with the other drugs in that class and with drugs in other classes. 5. Outline the care considerations and teaching needs for people receiving each class of immune modulator.

Test your current knowledge of immune modulators with a PrepU Practice Quiz!

Glossary of key terms immune stimulant: drug used to energise the immune system when it is exhausted from fighting prolonged invasion or needs help fighting a specific pathogen or cancer cell immune suppressant: drug used to block or suppress the actions of the T cells and antibody production; used to prevent transplant rejection and to treat autoimmune diseases monoclonal antibodies: specific antibodies produced by a single clone of B cells to react with a very specific antigen recombinant DNA technology: use of bacteria to produce chemicals normally produced by human cells

IMMUNE STIMULANTS Interferons interferon alfa-2a interferon alfa-2b interferon beta-1a interferon beta-1b interferon gamma-1b peginterferon alfa-2a peginterferon alfa-2b

IMMUNE SUPPRESSANTS T- and B-cell suppressors abatacept azathioprine cyclosporin glatiramer acetate mycophenolate pimecrolimus sirolimus tacrolimus

Interleukin-receptor antagonist anakinra Monoclonal antibodies adalimumab alemtuzumab basiliximab bevacizumab certolizumab pegol cetuximab erlotinib

golimumab infliximab

natalizumab omalizumab palivizumab panitumumab rituximab tocilizumab trastuzumab ustekinumab

Interleukins aldesleukin