Image 6: Cyclosporin chemical structure composed of 11 amino acids.
Cyclosporin After organ rejection could be identified through an endomyocardial bypass procedure, the patient's problems continued with suffering from infection due to a weakened immune system. It was in 1970 that the fungus Tolypocladium inflatum was discovered in the isolated soil of Norway and in 1980 Dr. Norman Shunway established it as an immnunosupressant drug. This medication was able to lower the strength of a person's immune system by suppressing T-cell function which purpose is to fight off foreign objects in the body. Unlike previous anti-rejection drugs, Cyclosporin did not weaken the immune system's B-cell or antibodies production which aided the patient to battle infection or any other diseases. Cyclosporin began to be used not only for heart transplants but other organ and grafts transplants as well. Unfortunately, the drug did have some severe possible negative side effects such as high blood pressure (BP), kidney problems and being prone to cancerous tumor growth. It would also cause vomiting, psychological changes,abdominal pain and yellowing of the skin and eyes. Cyclosporin became used a precautionary drug to avoid organ rejection.