Editing Immunosuppression (section)

{{Short description|Decreased resistance to infection}}
{{Infobox interventions |
  Name        = Immunosuppression |
  Image       = Polyomavirus.jpg |
  Caption     = [[Micrograph]] showing an opportunistic infection due to immunosuppression - large (blue) cell below-center-left infected with a [[polyomavirus]]. Urine cytology specimen. |
  ICD10       = D89.9|
  ICD9unlinked = |
  MeshID      = D007165 |
  OPS301      = |
  OtherCodes  = |
}}

'''Immunosuppression''' is a reduction of the activation or [[efficacy]] of the [[immune system]]. Some portions of the immune system itself have immunosuppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reaction to treatment of other conditions.<ref name="2nih">{{Cite web|url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000818.htm|title=Immunodeficiency disorders: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia|website=medlineplus.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=45727|title=NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms|website=National Cancer Institute|language=en|access-date=2017-05-06|date=2011-02-02}}</ref>

In general, deliberately induced immunosuppression is performed to prevent the body from [[Transplant rejection|rejecting]] an [[organ transplant]].<ref name="emed1">{{Cite journal|date=2017-01-06|title=Immunosuppression: Overview, History, Drugs|url=http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/432316-overview}}</ref> Additionally, it is used for treating [[graft-versus-host disease]] after a [[bone marrow transplant]], or for the treatment of [[auto-immune disease]]s such as [[systemic lupus erythematosus]], [[rheumatoid arthritis]], [[Sjögren's syndrome]], or [[Crohn's disease]]. This is typically done using medications, but may involve surgery ([[splenectomy]]), [[plasmapheresis]], or radiation. A person who is undergoing immunosuppression, or whose immune system is weak for some other reasons (such as [[chemotherapy]] or [[HIV]]), is said to be ''[[immunocompromised]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms|title=NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms|date=2011-02-02|website=National Cancer Institute|language=en|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref>