Question

Following a heart transplant, a client is started on medication to prevent organ rejection. Which category of medication prevents the formation of antibodies against the new organ? A. Antivirals B. Antibiotics C. Immunosuppressants D. Analgesics

Short answer

Answer: C. Immunosuppressants

Step-by-step solution

Understand the medication categories

We'll first need to understand the function and purpose of each category of medication in the given options. A. Antivirals: These medications are used to treat viral infections. B. Antibiotics: These medications are used to treat bacterial infections. C. Immunosuppressants: These medications are used to suppress or reduce the strength of the body's immune system to prevent it from attacking healthy organs or tissues. D. Analgesics: These medications are used to relieve pain.

Determine the category preventing antibody formation

Now, we need to identify which of these categories primarily deals with preventing the formation of antibodies against the new organ. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to combat foreign substances (like bacteria, viruses, or transplanted organs). Since the goal is to prevent the formation of antibodies against the new organ, we need a type of medication that suppresses the immune system. Immunosuppressants are used to suppress the immune system, thus preventing it from producing antibodies against the new organ. The correct answer is C. Immunosuppressants.