The weakness of the immune system, unfortunately, is the main cause of the vast majority of viral infections. Immunostimulants and immunomodulators are designed to increase the body's resistance to the effects of foreign microorganisms. This is only one side of the influence of drugs of this group on biological defense processes. Their other purpose, which can be called the main one, is to strengthen and correct the immune system in order to prevent and treat severe autoimmune pathologies.
Immunostimulants and immunomodulators are an extensive group of drugs of biological, microbiological or synthetic origin, which effectively affect the protective mechanism of the human body. A curious feature of such substances is that they can have a multidirectional effect, which directly depends on its initial state.
The immune system is perhaps the most unique in our body, as it is its faithful guardian, designed to neutralize the pathogenic effects of foreign antigens. And when she herself can not cope with the "micromonsters" of our world, immunostimulants and immunomodulators come to her aid. Although these drugs are similar in their pharmacodynamic properties, nevertheless, there are several significant differences between them.
All substances to increase the tone and improve the protective functions of the body are divided into two main categories - immunostimulants and immunomodulators.
The former serve solely to stimulate one of the links (the weakest of them) of our biological defense system and improve its physiological characteristics.
The main task of the second category of drugs is to create balance and balance between all components of the immune system. In other words, these substances are designed to bring them to a single physiological denominator by lowering the activity of some parts of the protective chain and increasing the functionality of others. For example, immunomodulators with colds demonstrate a fairly high degree of effectiveness.
A special place among immunomodulators is occupied by a group of interferons - protein substances produced by body cells in response to viral attacks. The principle of their action is that they attach to cell membrane tissues, triggering a protective anti-infection mechanism. Synthetic interferons organically complement biological analogues secreted by body cells.
But the most effective immunomodulators nevertheless serve to combat dangerous autoimmune pathologies. For example, preparations of a subcategory of immunosuppressants are very successfully used for maintenance therapy in such an incurable neurological disease as
multiple sclerosis. As a rule, their action is aimed at suppressing the severity of inflammatory processes. Such drugs are characterized by a quick and good clinical effect. The etiopathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases and allergic processes is based on the imbalance of certain cells, which all drugs in this group eliminate with varying degrees of effectiveness.