Immunosuppressive drug treatment.

Use of the immunosuppressive agents in patients with rheumatic diseases is becoming increasingly common as our experience using these agents increases. This year's review of recent reports on immunosuppressive drugs for rheumatic diseases focuses on recent contributions to the literature regarding individual agents. Additionally, we review recommendations regarding immunization of immunosuppressed patients and exposure of such patients to common communicable illnesses to which they may be inadvertently exposed.