What are common immunosuppressive therapies?

• A. Corticosteroids, cytotoxic drugs, and selective immunosuppressive therapy
• B. Antibiotics, antivirals, vaccines
• C. Antihistamines, NSAIDs, analgesics
• D. Immunoglobulins only

Answer: (A)

Immunosuppressive therapy relies on three broad approaches that reduce immune activity. Corticosteroids blunt many immune pathways and rapidly decrease inflammation, making them a staple for quick control of immune-driven disease. Cytotoxic (antimetabolite) drugs limit the proliferation and function of immune cells, especially lymphocytes, providing sustained suppression. Selective immunosuppressive therapies target specific parts of the immune response—such as particular signaling pathways, cells, or cytokines—to achieve more targeted and sometimes more tolerable suppression. Together these categories represent the main, commonly used strategies to dampen the immune system in conditions like transplant management and autoimmune diseases. The other options don’t fit as immunosuppressants: antibiotics, antivirals, and vaccines modulate infectious agents or immunity but don’t suppress the immune system itself; antihistamines, NSAIDs, and analgesics address symptoms or inflammation without broad immunosuppression; and immunoglobulin therapies offer passive immunity or immune modulation but are not general immunosuppressants.