Interní Med. 2011; 13(11): 436-439

Immunosuppressive drugs in cardiology

doc.MUDr.Ivan Málek, CSc., MUDr.Markéta Hegarová

Klinika kardiologie IKEM, Praha

The aim of the article is to provide a basic information about immunosuppressive drugs and their use in cardiology. The most frequent

indication for immunosuppressants is the prevention and treatment of rejection after cardiac transplantation. Drugs with antiproliferative

effect (m-TOR inhibitors) are also the most frequent ones used in drug-eluting coronary stents, decreasing significanty the

rate of restenosis. Another form of coronary proliferative syndrome, chronic rejection after cardiac transplantation, can be effectively

influenced with systemic aplication of these drugs. Another indication for immunosuppressives present some types of myocarditis and

inflammatory cardiomyopathies. Calcineurin inhibitors may be useful in the prevention of injury after myocardial reperfusion, but this

approach in still experimental.

Keywords: immunosuppressive drugs, cardiac transplantation, myocarditis, drug eluting stent, myocardial reperfusion

Published: November 1, 2011  Show citation