BASIC PRINCIPLES AND METHODS TO THE USE IMMUNOMODULATING PREPARATIONS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: CLASSIFICATION, INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS

This paper is devoted to one of the most pressing issues in modern clinical medicine, the problem of immunomodulators and immunotropic therapy. The materials presented are the logical sequel of the papers published by Revaz I. Sepiashvili in 2001-2015. In these articles, the author proposed the first classification of immunotropic preparations, a brief historical background and chronological emergence of the concept of therapies, as well as definition of immunomodulators. This paper presents an updated classification of immunomodulatory drugs which is valid for January 2015. The paper also outlines basic principles for therapies that allow the clinician not only to select a proper immunomodulator but also to develop strategy and tactics in treatment of the patient, taking into account his/her individual characteristics and the need to use in clinical practice only officially registered immunotropic preparations.