Side Effects of Treatment for Inflammatory Diseases of the Kidneys or Transplantation

Some medications are prescribed to suppress the immune response to treat inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, or to suppress the immune response that would otherwise be responsible for rejecting a transplanted kidney. They include the glucocorticoid steroids, cyclophosphamide, and (for transplant recipients) the calcineurin inhibitors (which inhibit the calcineurin, a body enzyme important in immune cell growth and development), and other drugs.

Because these are powerful drugs, their side effects may also be strong and may affect various body systems. Potential side effects may include an increased susceptibility to infection, and greater difficulty treating infection; fluid or salt retention; nausea; or an increased risk of diabetes or kidney damage, among others (and depending on the specific medication).