Nursing implications of immunosuppression in transplantation

The numbers and survival rates of patients undergoing solid organ transplantation have increased over the past decade. The use of immunosuppressive drugs has contributed greatly to the success of transplantation. Drugs such as cyclosporine, steroids, azathioprine, ATG/ALG, OKT3, and new drugs under investigation such as FK506 are being used on a daily basis by nurses who care for organ transplant patients. This article reviews these medications and the implications for nurses administering these drugs.