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Medical Complications of Immunosuppression

  • Chapter
Therapeutic Immunosuppression

Part of the book series: Immunology and Medicine Series ((IMME,volume 29))

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Abstract

Transplantation effectively owes its existence to the development of immunosuppressive agents. Loss of allografts of all types to acute rejection has become less frequent as the potency and variety of immunosuppressive agents has continued to improve. Unfortunately, the medical complications of transplantation are also largely related to these agents. Each one has been associated with well-described side effects, all of which must be anticipated and managed by the physicians caring for these patients. There is a growing recognition that patient and graft survival may be highly influenced by the side effects of these agents. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in transplant patients, and its progression may be accelerated by various immunosuppressive agents. Likewise, graft loss is largely caused by chronic allograft rejection after the first two years. The influence of hyperlipidemia and other factors may play a major role in this process. Proper management of the medical complications after transplantation may offer an important opportunity to prevent premature death and graft loss.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jerry McCauley

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Ron Shapiro

Authors
  1. Jerry McCauley
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  2. Ron Shapiro
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Angus W. Thomson

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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McCauley, J., Shapiro, R. (2001). Medical Complications of Immunosuppression. In: Thomson, A.W. (eds) Therapeutic Immunosuppression. Immunology and Medicine Series, vol 29. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0765-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0765-8_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-3821-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-0765-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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