Immunosuppressants for Stem Cell Transplant Patients

Patients receiving an allogeneic stem cell transplant at Phoenix Children's Hospital will receive immunosuppressant medications. They decrease the function of the immune system to prevent and/or treat stem cell rejection or Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD).

Examples of immunosuppressant medications are:

• ATGAM
• Cyclosporin A (CSA)
• tacrolimus (Prograf, FK506)
• Prednisone or other steroids.

Because chemotherapy and immonosuppressants are given during the stem cell transplant process, severe bone marrow suppression occurs.

To help decrease the severity, the patient may be given medications to encourage the bone marrow to make infection fighting cells. GCSF (Neupogen) is a medication given in the vein or as a shot in the fatty tissue. It encourages the bone marrow to produce white blood cells (infection fighting cells).

Please contact us if you have questions about immunosuppressants, other medications or anything else related to the stem cell transplant process.