Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN) Practice Exam

Cyclosporine was the first non-steroidal immunosuppressive drug that significantly improved heart transplant success rates. Introduced in the early 1980s, it transformed the management of transplant patients by providing a highly effective means of preventing organ rejection. Its unique mechanism of action selectively inhibits T-lymphocyte activation, which is crucial in the immune response against transplanted organs. Prior to the introduction of cyclosporine, transplant success was limited, and the range of immunosuppressive agents available was less effective, often necessitating the use of corticosteroids and azathioprine, which did not provide the same level of efficacy in preventing rejection. With the incorporation of cyclosporine into transplant protocols, there was a marked increase in graft survival rates, establishing it as a cornerstone in post-transplant immunosuppressive therapy.