Why glucorticoids employed in transplant patients

Question

Describe why glucorticoids employed in transplant patients?

Answer 1

The patients with transplanted organs are prone to host vs. graft rejection as their own immune system tends to attack the grafted organ since of recognition of grafted tissue as foreign matter. In the prevention and treatment of this general problem patients are provided glucorticoids or other immunosupressants. Glucocorticoids contain an immunosuppressant action and therefore they decrease the aggression of immune system against the graft. The immune action though is as well very significant for the individual. The immune system protects the body against invasion and infection by pathogenic agents (that is, virus, bacteria and toxins) besides being basic for the removal of modified cells which might proliferate and cause cancer. The patients receiving immunosuppressants such as glucocorticoids are therefore beneath increased risk of infectious and neoplastic diseases.