Transplant immunosuppressant agents and their role in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

This article examines immunosuppressant transplant agents used to treat the various rheumatic diseases. The older drugs of this type have been used in this dual role for decades. There is a new generation of immunosuppressant drugs with established use in the arena of transplantation medicine. Only recently have the potential rheumatologic applications for these agents been investigated. The authors review in depth the published experience with the newer agents. The authors also discuss novel rheumatologic uses for the older agents that have been described within the past year.