What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed new experimental approaches for immunosuppression, including cyclosporin A, total lymphoid irradiation, thoracic duct drainage, and hyperbaric oxygen.
What They Found
The review highlighted cyclosporin A's ability to suppress multiplying T and B lymphocytes, total lymphoid irradiation's success in achieving transplantation tolerance in rats, and the effectiveness of thoracic duct drainage in some autoimmune diseases. The authors' own work demonstrated that hyperbaric oxygen at 2 1/2 ATA for five hours daily depressed cell-mediated immunity in mice, a condition reversible by intravenous autologous macrophages.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted by American researchers and published in an American journal.
Study Limitations
A primary limitation is that this 1980 review focuses on experimental approaches, many of which were not yet clinically established or have since been superseded by newer therapies.