Chapter 6 Renal Toxicities Associated with Immunomodulatory Drugs

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the renal toxicities associated with immunomodulatory drugs. Immunosuppressive drug therapy remains an essential cornerstone of treatment in autoimmunity. Re-establishing immunological tolerance to particular auto-antigens, although highly desirable, is not yet achievable in a reproducible manner. The net effect is that although the autoimmune disease is treated, the patients may experience to adverse effects related to their loss of defensive immunity to pathogens and to malignantly transformed cells. This chapter reviews the renal toxicity associated with currently used immunosuppressants, immune modulators, and some adjuvant therapies frequently utilized with these agents. It highlights the explanation for these effects. This chapter discusses some of the novel agents that are becoming available and what is expected in the future regarding their use and their adverse effects on the kidney. This chapter also discusses the effects according to the renal compartments affected, as well as according to the agent used.