Weather extremes can turn mild ills deadly Jun 25, 2008
Its an immunosuppressive virus. If you are being challenged, it now allows those other diseases to completely take over. (MSNBC -- Health)
Kidney Transplant Patients May Benefit From Going Off Of Certain Immunosuppressive Drugs Jun 25, 2008
ScienceDaily (June 24, 2008) Withdrawing certain immunosuppressive drugs following kidney transplantation prolongs survival and saves money compared with keeping patients on these medications for life, according to a new study ... Immunosuppressive drugs such as calcineurin inhibitors are critical after kidney transplantation to prevent organ rejection, particularly during the first year ... Sirolimus, in combination with steroids, is currently the only immunosuppressive treatment regimen that... (Science Daily)
Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Boosts Melanoma Incidence Jun 21, 2008
"Our findings, taken together with other studies investigating the risk of skin cancer in patients with RA, may support a role for regular skin cancer screening for all patients with RA, particularly those receiving immunosuppressive therapy.". The study was published in the June issue of the journal Arthritis Care & Research. (Health-Finder)
Psoriasis drug may raise cancer risk Jun 15, 2008
Michael Parks, Centocor spokesman, was quoted by Reuters as saying that "the risk of malignancies with immunosuppressive therapy is theoretically possible.". If the drug is approved, it will compete with Amgen Inc and Wyeth's Enbrel and Abbott Laboratories Inc's Humira, which block an inflammation-causing protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). (Food Consumer)
Methotrexate for Arthritis Raises Melanoma Risk Jun 14, 2008
Nevertheless, Buchbinder and her colleagues conclude that the findings "may support a role for regular skin cancer screening for all patients with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly those receiving immunosuppressive therapy.". SOURCE: Arthritis atism, June 15, 2008. (MEDLINEplus)
Monitoring our immune system Jun 10, 2008
18F]FAC microPET also detected early changes in lymphoid mass in systemic autoimmunity and allowed evaluation of immunosuppressive therapy. These data support the use of [18F]FAC PET for immune monitoring and suggest a wide range of clinical applications in immune disorders and in certain types of cancer. (ZDNet)
Promising advances in islet cell transplants for diabetes Jun 10, 2008
Patients who have had a kidney transplant and are taking immunosuppressive drugs may also be eligible. For more information about the Clinical Islet Transplant Consortium studies, call UIC at (312) 996-6087 or visit. (EurekAlert!)
Reduced Exposure to Calcineurin Inhibitors in Renal Transplantation Jun 5, 2008
The authors' putative conclusion is that a quadruple immunosuppressive regimen of daclizumab, "low-dose" tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids should be considered the standard in renal transplantation. We have concerns, however, about the equipotency of the four immunosuppressive strategies used. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Penn State Hershey Transplant Program Uses Assay to Monitor Cell-Mediated Immunity Jun 2, 2008
However, for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for new malignancy post-transplant, there was a significant decrease in CMI despite a concurrent decrease in the levels of immunosuppressive medications ... "The test provides us with the ability to assess patients' immune status more accurately than the traditional monitoring of patients' levels of immunosuppressive drugs." she continued. (PR Newswire)
Final Results of the CellCept(R) Spare the Nephron (STN) Study Show Maintenance Therapy is Associated with Improved Renal Function Jun 2, 2008
Only physicians experienced in immunosuppressive therapy and management of renal, cardiac or hepatic transplant patients should use CellCept ... -- Patients receiving immunosuppressive regimens involving combinations of drugs, including CellCept, as part of an immunosuppressive regimen are at increased risk of developing lymphomas and other malignancies, particularly of the skin. (PR Newswire)
Anti-Rejection Drugs After Transplant, Increase Diabetes Risk: Study May 31, 2008
A relatively new drug possessing potent immunosuppressive and antiproliferative properties, Sirolimus is a macrolide first discovered as a product of the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus in a soil sample from an island called Rapa Nui. ( filed under: ) Write to author. (TheMedGuru)
Drug may prolong organ life in noncompliant kidney transplant patients May 31, 2008
A team of five UC San Diego investigators reported a careful assessment of immune function at "trough" levels (lowest daily levels) of the three most commonly used immunosuppressive drugs, using an assay (ImmuKnow/ Cylex) designed specifically to measure the degree of immunosuppression at any given time. Lower "mitogenic response" meant better immunosuppression and more protection from rejection. (EurekAlert!)
Depression Ups Risk of Poor Kidney Transplant Outcome May 28, 2008
"Concerns about transplant rejection, fear of infection, readjustment to everyday life, and use of immunosuppressive medications, with frequent and often severe adverse effects" can lead to emotional problems in the early years after kidney transplantation, the research team notes in the current issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. However, the consequences of developing depression in this patient population are unclear. (MEDLINEplus)
Isotechnika reports final results of the PROMISE trial May 27, 2008
All patients received oral dosing with the drug (voclosporin or tacrolimus) over a six month period along with other standard immunosuppressive therapies used following transplantation. About Isotechnika ----------------- Edmonton-based Isotechnika Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are designed to offer advantages over other currently available treatments. (Canada Newswire)
Arthritis Drugs May Impair Response to Flu Vaccine May 23, 2008
Gelinck and colleagues compared the immune response after influenza vaccination in 112 patients treated with immunosuppressive therapy, including anti-TNF agents; 48 matched patients not treated with anti-TNF agents, and 18 healthy controls ... Both immunosuppressive therapy groups had lower levels of protective antibodies than did healthy controls. (MEDLINEplus)
Radiation for Prostate Cancer Raises Risk of Other Cancers May 21, 2008
Cyclophosphamide is an immunosuppressive drug used to treat several types of cancers and is known to cause bladder damage that can lead to bladder cancer. In patients followed for up to 50 years, the researchers found that the chances of developing bladder cancer increased over time. (MEDLINEplus)
Sell your kidney for $50,000, says specialist May 5, 2008
He said the allocation system, which uses cross-matching and tissue typing developed 40 years ago before powerful immunosuppressive drugs were available, disadvantaged the most needy because the longer a person spent. Buying a chance to survive. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
At the cutting edge May 3, 2008
"He takes immunosuppressive drugs every day to prevent rejection, and in the past 15 years these have caused what he calls "nasties" - skin disorders and sudden, hard eruptions on his hands or head which have to be surgically removed, sometimes requiring skin grafts. He makes light of them - just as he makes light of his entire medical history. Only once, when I ask about the seven other renal patients in his ward in St Mary's, does he allow a glimpse of something else. Every one of them, he... (Guardian Unlimited)
Studies test new approaches to islet transplantation May 2, 2008
In 2000, a research team led by Dr. James Shapiro at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, reported sustained insulin independence in seven patients transplanted with islets from two to four donor pancreases and treated with an immunosuppressive regimen that omitted glucocorticoids, thought to be toxic to islets ... In addition, researchers are accepting type 1 diabetes patients who have had a kidney transplant and are already taking immunosuppressive drugs. (EurekAlert!)
New Nanotube Sensor Can Continuously Monitor Minute Amounts Of Insulin Apr 18, 2008
Unfortunately these transplants require large doses of immunosuppressive drugs, and scientists don't yet know how these drugs affect the health of the islet cells. One of the next steps is to use the microphysiometer to measure insulin, lactate and oxygen levels simultaneously. (Science Daily)
Slightly Abnormal Blood Test May Point To A 'Silent' Form Of Hepatitis B Apr 16, 2008
However, in the event that a patient requires immunosuppressive therapy for cancer or has an immune disorder such as AIDS, the virus could conceivably replicate and further compromise the patient s health. Kreek and Bart also report that 13 of the 20 patients who had silent hepatitis B also had chronic hepatitis C, an entirely different liver disease that affects more than 80 percent of injection-drug users. (Science Daily)
Kiadis Pharma Receives Orphan Drug Designation for Rhitol(TM) From the FDA Apr 15, 2008
About Rhitol(TM) Rhitol(TM) is under development as a treatment for patients with chronic GvHD resistant or intolerant to immunosuppressive agents ... Chronic GvHD usually develops some time after the transplantation and is generally treated by immunosuppressive drugs, such as steroids ... The disease can however become life threatening when standard treatment cannot control its progression and the patient does not respond to additional immunosuppressive treatment or develops severe side effects... (Canada Newswire)
Heart And Lung Transplant Patients May No Longer Need Biopsies And Could Receive Personalized Care From Biomarkers Apr 15, 2008
Until recently, heart muscle biopsy was the only method available to rule out heart transplant rejection and guide treatment with anti-rejection, or immunosuppressive, therapy. Aside from the invasive and painful nature of the procedure, a biopsy is only able to detect rejection after damage has already occurred to the heart tissue. (Science Daily)
Gene Involved In Blood Stem Cell Replication, Movement, Identified Apr 13, 2008
Blood cell transplantation may also one day help people with diabetes better tolerate islet cell transplants without the need for prolonged use of powerful immunosuppressive drugs. In addition, transplantation of blood-forming stem cells, also called hematopoietic stem cells, may prove useful in halting the autoimmune process that causes type 1 diabetes. (Science Daily)
Biomarkers may reduce need for biopsies Apr 11, 2008
In Biomarkers: What Are They" How Might They Aid in Care of Allograft Recipients and Other Patients, Christopher J. ODonnell, MD, MPH, from NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute/Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, will present data pertaining to personalized care, its benefits and future impact on heart and lung patients. Following, Dr. Christoph Borchers, Director of the Genome Canada Proteomics Platform at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, will provide a look at the... (EurekAlert!)
Mechanism Underlying Multidrug Resistance In Fungi Discovered Apr 7, 2008
This discovery could help advance treatments for opportunistic fungal infections that frequently plague individuals with compromised immunity, such as patients receiving chemotherapy, transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressive drugs, and AIDS patients. See also. (Science Daily)
Broken hearts Apr 6, 2008
It would be a decade before this problem was partially solved with the introduction of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin, the single most important advance in the history of transplants ... I started to be loaded up with huge doses of immunosuppressives, steroids, anti-fungals, antibiotics, statins, etc, etc. (Guardian Unlimited)
A Bone Marrow Disease With a Brighter Prognosis Mar 24, 2008
Patients whose transplants fail, or for whom transplantation is not an option, often receive successful immunosuppressive therapy with agents like anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine. Response rates typically range from 70 percent to 80 percent, according to the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation Inc.. (Health-Finder)
Autism and vaccines: What's the link? Mar 22, 2008
But it isn t. Mitochondrial diseases, as well as immunosuppressive diseases, are rare and extremely difficult to diagnosis, which is why children suspected of these diagnoses eventually end up being evaluated by specialists. And for parents who balk at seeing their small, fragile infants receiving injections, consider having numerous vials of relatively large quantities of blood drawn from their small, fragile veins to test for a disorder that is not common enough to screen for. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Severe Lupus May Respond to Drug Combo Mar 21, 2008
They studied 16 female patients who had not responded to conventional immunosuppressive therapy and were given weekly infusions of rituximab for 4 weeks. The first and last infusion was combined with cyclophosphamide and a steroid. (MEDLINEplus)
Achieving Remission Mar 20, 2008
For patients with SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, and other connective tissue disorders, can reduce inflammation to a degree that harsh immunosuppressive drugs can be stopped. However, what works for one person may not work for another. (Suite101.com)
A Man with Fever, Abdominal Pain, and Pancytopenia after Renal Transplantation Mar 15, 2008
The patient had received a cadaveric renal allograft 15 years earlier because of glomerulonephritis, after which he had been treated with an immunosuppressive regimen of prednisone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine. At a routine follow-up visit approximately 4 months before admission, results of laboratory tests revealed a white-cell count of 1700 per cubic millimeter (18% neutrophils) and a platelet count of 107,000 per cubic millimeter. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Partial face transplants planned in Boston Mar 5, 2008
Fitzpatrick said kidney transplant recipients are already taking immunosuppressive medication, which helps stop rejection. Such patients have a higher risk of the development of facial cancers as a result of the medication. (Boston Globe)
Saving facesSo it can be done, but should face transplants become standard? Mar 5, 2008
Ms Dinoire has had two "incidents", when her body's immune system tried to reject the foreign tissue, but so far immunosuppressive drugs are working. But these drugs - which all transplant patients need to prevent their bodies rejecting the new organ - carry their own side-effects. (BBC News -- Health)
Multiple sclerosis: Perplexing and hard to treat Mar 5, 2008
Novantrone is an immunosuppressive cancer drug used to treat progressive MS.. A sixth drug, Tysabri, a monoclonal antibody that prevents immune cells from entering the brain, is given intravenously every four weeks. (International Herald Tribune)
UPMC transplant chief resigns under pressure Mar 4, 2008
Also, he and UPMC transplant pioneer Dr. Thomas Starzl were known to have disagreed about certain issues, the source said, including the weaning of transplant recipients off immunosuppressive drugs. Dr. Marcos, in addition to being chief of the division of transplantation, was clinical director of the UPMC Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
ACLU provides forum on pain and marijuana (23) Mar 2, 2008
Prosser killed herself in October, saying she couldn't tolerate the pain of her immunosuppressive disorder. These are the only patients required to break federal law every day and make their own medicine. (Missoulian, MT)
The life you save Feb 27, 2008
Advances in immunosuppressive drugs have transformed survival rates, and now for many years numerous leading Orthodox Zionist authorities (such as rabbis Shlomo Aviner, Benny Lau, Michael Melchior, Yuval Sherlo, Shlomo Riskin, Yoel Bin Nun and Yehuda Amital - to name but a few) actively support donor card programs. Haredi leaders' reluctance has more to do with a general antagonism and mistrust toward the state and its institutions than any halachic objections. (Jerusalem Post)
Aggressive Therapy for Crohn's Disease Produces Better Outcomes Feb 23, 2008
International study found remission occurred faster, more often with immunosuppressive drugs ... Using more than one immunosuppressive drug shortly after a person was diagnosed with the disease was more effective in inducing remission than starting patients on corticosteroids, according to the study in the Feb. 23 issue of The Lancet ... Then, if side effects or steroid resistance develop, it moves on to broad-spectrum immunosuppressive drugs such as Rheumatrex (methotrexate). (Health-Finder)
Overabundance of Immune Cells Might Trigger Lupus Feb 15, 2008
Immunosuppressive medications -- such as azathioprine and cyclosporine -- are also used to dampen an immune system gone haywire. However, such regimens, while effective, can provoke severe side effects. (Health-Finder)
Brookline diabetes researcher makes FDA history with clinical trial Feb 14, 2008
In his investigator initiated drug trial, Orban said he bucked the usual trends of focusing on immunosuppressive drugs that try to stop Type 1 patients bodies from destroying insulin. This is actually conceptually different, Orban said. (Brookline TAB, MA)
Scientists prepare to turn fiction into fact with first full-face transplant Feb 13, 2008
The recipient would then require a lifetime's supply of immunosuppressive drugs to maintain the new face. Some burns victims have had more than 50 skin-graft operations to rebuild faces that they believe to be still hopelessly disfigured. (Yahoo News -- Organ Donation & Transplants)
Diabetes Trial Supported By US-Based Diabetes Foundation Feb 12, 2008
Living Cell's technology enables healthy living cells to be injected into patients to replace or repair damaged tissue without requiring the use of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection. Living Cell also offers medical-grade porcine-derived products for the repair and replacement of damaged tissues, as well as for research and other purposes. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Psoriatic Arthritis Does Not Raise Risk of Cancer Feb 12, 2008
"The associations between rheumatic disease, psoriasis, immunosuppressive medication, and malignancy remain enigmatic," note Dr. Dafna D. Gladman, of the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues in a report in the medical journal Arthritis and Rheumatism. To investigate further, they analyzed 665 patients who were followed from 1978 to 2004 at the University of Toronto Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic. (MEDLINEplus)
Pixantrone Shows Activity in a Preclinical Study of Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis (EAMG) Feb 11, 2008
The authors concluded that "pixantrone [is] a promising immunosuppressant agent suitable for clinical investigation in myasthenia gravis, although additional experiments are needed to confirm its safety profile in prolonged treatments." Current therapeutic treatment options for myasthenia gravis include corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, both of which are effective in most patients ... Mitoxantrone has a broad immunosuppressive effect, but has cumulative cardiotoxicity and prolonged... (PR Newswire)
Psoriasis Drug May Provide Lasting Relief Feb 8, 2008
Mild cases of psoriasis can be treated with topical medication, but more serious cases, in which lesions cover more than 10 percent of the body, require treatment with ultraviolet radiation or immunosuppressive drugs. These therapies cannot be used over the long term, however, due to an increased risk of cancer. (MEDLINEplus)
Flu bug draining blood supply 02-07-2008 Feb 8, 2008
All persons age 6 months and older with chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, pulmonary disorders (including asthma), diabetes, kidney disease, hemoglobinopathies, and compromised immune systems (HIV or immunosuppressive therapy). All women who will be pregnant during in the influenza season. (Plainview Daily Herald, TX)
JDRF partners with Plureon to explore generating insulin-producing cells from adult stem cells Feb 5, 2008
The objective is to return the re-programmed insulin-producing cells back into the patient in an autologous manner, i.e., without the need for immunosuppressive agents normally required for organ transplantation in this manner, the patients own transplanted cells will be capable of glucose-dependent insulin secretion and the restoration of normal blood sugar levels. Plureon is the latest company to work with JDRF through its innovative Industry Discovery and Development Partnership program. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
MSU researchers make new discoveries on what does and doesn't affect immune system Feb 5, 2008
Another MSU research team found that corticosteroids produced naturally in the body don't have this same immunosuppressive effect. The human body secretes corticosteroids when it's under stress, both psychological and physical, and these steroids are responsible for the "fight-or-flight response" in humans and other animals. (EurekAlert!)
Breast-Feeding Protected Mice from Asthma Jan 30, 2008
"We found that airborne antigens are efficiently transferred from the mother to the neonate through milk. We believe that the presence of the allergen in milk together with the immunosuppressive molecule called TGF-beta "instructs" the immune system of the neonate not to over-react against the allergen," Julia added. Although more studies need to be done to confirm the potential effect in humans, as Wu pointed out, "there are other huge benefits of breast-feeding in terms of nutrition and... (MEDLINEplus)
Vitamin D Deficiency Study Raises New Questions About Disease And Supplements Jan 28, 2008
However, this new research demonstrates that ingested vitamin D is immunosuppressive and that low blood levels of vitamin D may be actually a result of the disease process. Supplementation may make the disease worse. (Science Daily)
Climate health warning sounded Jan 28, 2008
A successful case of an organ donor recipient living without immunosuppressive drugs has provided hope more patients could live drug-free for life. 2008. (InTheNews.co.uk)
Transplant Patient Thrives Two Years After Stopping Immunosuppressive Drugs Jan 25, 2008
The journal issue also includes two reports from other research groups, describing their efforts to achieve organ transplantation without long-term immunosuppressive drugs ... But unless the recipient has an identical twin, there will always be some minor differences between the organs, so even close matches require a lifetime of immunosuppressive drugs ... When the Stanford transplant team approached Kowalski with the offer, he jumped at the chance that might allow him to forego a lifetime of... (Science Daily)
Experimental Procedure Induces Tolerance To Mismatched Kidney Transplants Jan 25, 2008
24, 2008) Four of five patients participating in a trial of an experimental protocol designed to induce immune tolerance to HLA-mismatched kidney transplants have been able to discontinue immunosuppressive drugs ... That patient received both marrow and a kidney from her HLA-matched sister and was able to discontinue immunosuppressive drugs about two months later ... The first two patients in the trial were successfully weaned from immunosuppressive drugs in the months following their... (Science Daily)
Stem Cells May Gradually Replace Antirejection Drugs For Kidney Transplant Patients Jan 25, 2008
Overall, HLA-identical siblings have very low rejection rates for kidney transplants but until now have still required immunosuppressive drugs to be taken for life ... 24, 2008) Four of five patients participating in a trial of an experimental protocol designed to induce immune tolerance to HLA-mismatched kidney transplants have been able to discontinue immunosuppressive. (Science Daily)
Girl switches blood type Jan 25, 2008
These factors include the particular type of liver failure she had, a post-operation infection with the virus cytomegalovirus, and immunosuppressive drugs. "To try to replicate that is easier said than done," Stormon said, but added the case could still potentially be of crucial importance. (iAfrica.com)
Harvard scientist triumphs after setback in kidney transplant study Jan 24, 2008
Transplants of such mismatched organs are the most common and the most likely to be rejected, even when patients take immunosuppressive drugs ... Transplant surgeons said Sachs's study represents a pivotal moment in organ transplantation, demonstrating that it is feasible to eliminate immunosuppressive drugs with their debilitating side effects, such as skin warts, cataracts, and increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, and serious infections. (Boston Globe)
Transplant goal 'one step closer' Jan 24, 2008
Close matches require a lifetime of immunosuppressive drugs which increase the risk of infection, high blood pressure and cholesterol. They can also increase the risks of certain types of cancer. (BBC News -- Health)
Transplant breakthrough reported Jan 24, 2008
In another Journal article, a research team from the Stanford University School of Medicine, led by John Scandling, reported that they were also able to eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs in a 47-year-old patient who received donated blood cells from his brother two weeks after getting one of his kidneys ... Six other patients given the same treatment have not been able to stop taking their immunosuppressive drugs, although their donated kidneys were not a perfect match the way Mr.... (Globe and Mail)
New Therapies Could Change Organ Transplants Jan 24, 2008
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Therapies that allow organ transplant recipients to stop taking powerful immunosuppressive drugs are starting to come to fruition. "The next stage in the development of the transplant field is to completely withdraw those drugs and be able to have the lifesaving benefit of the transplant without the costs of the lifelong immunosuppressive drugs," said Dr. Samuel Strober, senior author of a paper describing one of these therapies and a professor of medicine... (Health-Finder)
Immunosuppressive Therapy and Tolerance of Organ Allografts Jan 24, 2008
In this issue of the Journal, three articles describe several organ-transplant recipients in whom allografts have maintained good function for up to 5 years without immunosuppressive treatment. 1,2,3 In two articles concerning combined kidney and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, the authors attributed the successful outcome in their patients to the cotransplantation of donor stem cells. (New England Journal of Medicine)
HLA-Matched Renal Transplantation without Maintenance Immunosuppression Jan 24, 2008
In the other four recipients, it was possible to discontinue all immunosuppressive therapy 9 to 14 months after the transplantation, and renal function has remained stable for 2 ... The T cells from these four recipients, tested in vitro, showed donor-specific unresponsiveness and in specimens from allograft biopsies, obtained after withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy, there were high levels of P3 (FOXP3) messenger RNA (mRNA) but not granzyme B mRNA. ... Immunosuppressive Therapy and... (New England Journal of Medicine)
Tolerance and Chimerism after Renal and Hematopoietic-Cell Transplantation Jan 24, 2008
The patient had persistent mixed chimerism, and the function of the kidney allograft has been normal for more than 28 months since discontinuation of all immunosuppressive drugs. Adverse events requiring hospitalization were limited to a 2-day episode of fever with neutropenia. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Chimerism and Tolerance in a Recipient of a Deceased-Donor Liver Transplant Jan 24, 2008
The hemolysis resolved after the gradual withdrawal of all immunosuppressive therapy. Source Information. (New England Journal of Medicine)
A Long Way, Baby Jan 22, 2008
4) And recipients might still need immunosuppressive drugs. (Related: 1) A military project to lost body parts using matrix. (Slate)
