Clinical Immunotoxicology

Book excerpt: This text is a comprehensive source of information on the toxic effects of environmental, industrial, and pharmacological agents on the human immune system. Focusing entirely on human immunotoxicology, without relying on animal models, the book explains the basic principles of immunotoxicology defines the mechanisms by which immunotoxins act, describes the clinical expression of immunotoxic disorders in the lung, skin, and other target organs, offers practical guidelines for early detection and control of host defense dysfunctions, and explores strategies for assessing the short- and long-term health effects of new and old chemicals and biologicals. The book includes extensive discussions on the role of low-dose, chronic immunosuppression in cancer, as well as on specific environmental and occupational immunotoxins and immunotoxic drugs used in hematology, anesthesiology, oncology and transplantation surgery.