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.
Immunostimulators and immunomodulators are an extensive group of drugs of biological, microbiological or synthetic origin that effectively affect the defense 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, because it is its faithful guardian, designed to neutralize the pathogenic effects of foreign antigens. And when she cannot cope with the “micromonsters” of our world on her own, immunostimulants and immunomodulators come to her aid. Although these drugs are similar in their pharmacodynamic properties, however, there are several significant differences between them.
All substances to increase 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 drugs of the second category 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 common physiological denominator by lowering the activity of some links of the protective chain and increasing the functionality of others. For example, immunomodulators for 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-infective mechanism. Synthetic interferons organically complementbiological analogues secreted by the cells of the body.
But the most effective immunomodulators still serve to combat dangerous autoimmune pathologies. For example, drugs in the immunosuppressant subcategory have been used very successfully in maintenance therapy for an incurable neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis. As a rule, their action is aimed at suppressing the severity of inflammatory processes. Such drugs are characterized by a fast and good clinical effect. The etiopathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases and allergic processes is based on an imbalance of certain cells, which all drugs of this group eliminate with varying degrees of effectiveness.
