What are the important considerations for immunosuppression in the elderly?
Immunosuppressive therapy must be modified in the elderly transplant recipient because immune-competence lessens, thereby resulting in a decreased likelihood of immunologic rejection, but increasing the risk of infection.
The other important consideration is altered pharmacokinetics and effects of drugs in the elderly. Some studies suggest that lower levels of immunosuppression may be sufficient in elderly patients to achieve adequate patient and graft survival.
